Dear Steve Elliot-Gower,
I have just read, and enjoyed, your article: 'Going metric would be
nice global gesture' by Steve Elliott-Gower for the Journal-
Constitution (Monday, January 05, 2009). The reference was passed on
to me by a friend in the USA.
You ask, Could it be that the idea was originally French? My research
(in 2007) suggests otherwise.
I believe that the basis of the metric system was invented in England,
by Bishop John Wilkins, in 1668. This was some 120 years before
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson promoted the ideas of a decimal
currency and the decimalisation of measures in France in the 1780s. I
think that it was the coming together of these two forces (Wilkins
ideas about a 'universal measure' and Franklin's and Jefferson's
promotion of decimals) that supported the French 'philosophes' when
they sought revolutionary new measurement and currency methods in the
1790s.
For a summary of my research (intended for students) go to: http://www.metricationmatters.com/who-invented-the-metric-system.html
and for detailed articles go to http://www.metricationmatters.com/articles
and search for 'Wilkins'.
On another issue, might I suggest that your headline, 'Going metric
would be nice global gesture', somewhat understates the issues
involved in the USA choosing non-metrication. I have analysed the
costs to the USA of non-metrication as best I can at http://www.metricationmatters.com/docs/CostOfNonMetrication.pdf
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216,
Geelong, Australia
Phone: 61 3 5241 2008
Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has
helped thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the
modern metric system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they
now save thousands each year when buying, processing, or selling for
their businesses. Pat provides services and resources for many
different trades, crafts, and professions for commercial, industrial
and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and in the USA.
Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA, NIST,
and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See http://www.metricationmatters.com
for more metrication information, contact Pat at [email protected]
or to get the free 'Metrication matters' newsletter go to: http://www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter
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