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Catherine Barton

Catherine Barton (1679–1739) was Isaac Newton's half-niece, probable mistress of Charles Montague and later, the wife of John Conduitt.

She was the second daughter of Robert Barton and his second wife, Hannah Smith, half-sister of Isaac Newton, and baptized at Brigstock, Northampton on 25 Nov 1679.

She was remarked upon by several men to be beautiful, witty and clever. Sometime after her uncle Isaac moved to London to become Warden of the Mint in April 1696 she moved there to live with him. She was known as a brilliant conversationalist, and attracted the admiration of such famous figures as Jonathan Swift and Voltaire. Her uncle Isaac was also fond of her; an excerpt of an uncharacteristically warm letter from Newton survives, regarding her contraction of smallpox: "Pray let me know by your next how your face is and if your fevour be going. Perhaps warm milk from ye Cow may help to abate it. I am Your loving Unkle, Is. Newton."

Voltaire insinuated that Newton's preferment to the Royal Mint was the result of her alleged affair with Charles Montague. However, although it is true that Isaac was appointed under the patronage of Charles Montague, it is clear that Catherine Barton came up to London and met Montague after the appointment, not before.