Leon Foucault

Physicist

Birthday September 18, 1819

Birth Sign Virgo

Birthplace Paris, France

DEATH DATE Feb 11, 1868 (48)

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About

French physicist who demonstrated the Earth's rotation and measured the speed of light. For his breakthrough discoveries he was elected a member of the Royal Society of London, even though he was French.

Before Fame

He abandoned his pursuit to be a doctor because of his fear of blood.

Trivia

He is one of the 72 names inscribed on the sides of the Eiffel Tower, under the first balcony.

Family Life

His father was a publisher in Paris, France.

Associated With

One of his early experiments disproved Isaac Newton's theory of light.