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Births on September 18

Léon Foucault
1819Sep, 18

Léon Foucault

Léon Foucault, French physicist and academic (d. 1868)
Jean Bernard Léon Foucault (UK: , US: , French: [ʒɑ̃ bɛʁnaʁ leɔ̃ fuko]; 18 September 1819 – 11 February 1868) was a French physicist best known for his demonstration of the Foucault pendulum, a device demonstrating the effect of the Earth's rotation. He also made an early measurement of the speed of light, discovered eddy currents, and is credited with naming the gyroscope.

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Events on 1819

  • 19Feb

    South Shetland Islands

    British explorer William Smith discovers the South Shetland Islands and claims them in the name of King George III.
  • 1Jul

    Great Comet of 1819

    Johann Georg Tralles discovers the Great Comet of 1819, (C/1819 N1). It was the first comet analyzed using polarimetry, by François Arago.
  • 7Aug

    Battle of Boyacá

    Simón Bolívar triumphs over Spain in the Battle of Boyacá.