In 1543 Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus published his groundbreaking work De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres). That book proposed an astronomical model that put our sun, not the earth, in the center of the solar system. He published it in the same year as his death so as to avoid retribution from the Catholic Church. When he died, Copernicus was laid to rest in an unmarked grave, a most unassuming burial for such an important figure in modern science.
Copernicus finally got the respect he deserves. In May 2010 (nearly 500 years later) his body was exhumed and he was given a hero’s burial in the tomb of the cathedral where he labored as a church canon and doctor. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/after-467-years-copernicus-gets-a-heros-burial-1980493.html
In 1632 Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei published his work Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. The book argued in a somewhat hypothetical manner, that the sun, not the earth, is at the center of the solar system. Galileo was eventually arrested and given a trial by the Inquisition. He was guilty of heresy, of openly supporting and teaching sun-centered theories (heliocentrism). He was put under house arrest.
Galileo finally got the respect he deserves. In October 1992, Pope John Paul declared that the Inquisition had incorrectly convicted Galileo. In 1998 (over 400 years after Galileo death), the Church erected a statue of Galileo in the Vatican walls and the current Pope Benedict praised his contributions to astronomy. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/23/vatican-rewrites-history_n_153232.html
Finally there is Isaac Newton. Newton was an accomplished biblical scholar and theologian. He espoused two views that were considered vehemently heretical by most of Christendom (and still are). He believed that the Father and the Son are separate individuals. He also believed that there was an apostasy during his lifetime and that the true church of Jesus Christ was not upon the earth. He looked forward to its restoration.
Unfortunately, Newton has not yet gotten the respect he deserves for these two theological viewpoints. It may be a while before that respect comes – like, say, the Second Coming. At the Second Coming when the whole earth learns the truth about the godhead and the Restoration, I think Newton will get the respect he deserves. Of course, among the latter-day saints, he has already gotten the respect he deserves. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newton's_religious_views