Jean Bernard Léon Foucault was a French physicist who invented the Foucault pendulum, a device demonstrating the effect of Earth's rotation. He also made an early measurement of the speed of light, discovered eddy currents, and is credited with naming the gyroscope.
Léon Foucault, French physicist and academic (died 1868)
On September 18, in the year 1819, Léon Foucault, French physicist and academic (died 1868). This event is recorded as a Notable Births event in the history of September 18, one of 466 recorded events on this date across all of history.
1 notable person is associated with this event, including Léon Foucault. Learn more below.
Key Facts
- This event took place on September 18, 1819 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Notable Births event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 1 Wikipedia article.
- 1 notable person is recorded as involved in or associated with this event.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 29 August 2026.
On This Date in History 466
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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