William Gilbert
- For other people named William Gilbert, see William Gilbert (disambiguation)
William Gilbert (or
William Gylberde)
May 24,
1544,
Colchester,
England -
December 10,
1603,
London?, English physician to
Elizabeth I and
James I and scientific researcher into
magnetism and
electricity. His primary work was
De Magnete, Magneticisque Corporibus, et de Magno Magnete Tellure (On the Magnet and Magnetic Bodies, and on That Great Magnet the Earth) published in
1600. In this work he describes many of his experiments with his model earth called the
terrella.
A unit of magnetomotive force, also known as magnetic potential, is named the gilbert in his honor.
References
Stephen Pumfrey & David Tilley, "William Gilbert: forgotten genius", Physics World, November 2003; [online edition]
