Does it really matter whether it was invented by a Brit or a Frenchman? It ceased being a national invention in 1875 when a bunch of us signed the Treaty of the Meter and began participating (and voting) in the workings of the BIPM and its governing bodies.
Based on adoption, it was well on its way to being an international standard before that, but from that date on, its international nature can't be denied. ________________________________ From: Pat Naughtin <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, June 13, 2011 5:19:22 PM Subject: [USMA:50622] Fwd: Birmingham Mail article Dear All, I sent this email to the UKIP MEP MIke Nattrass ## Dear UKIP MEP MIke Nattrass, I have just read your comments about Imperial measurements for the UK in the Birmingham Mail. You seem to be unaware that the metric system is an English invention. It was invented in England by Bishop John Wilkins in 1668. Wilkins was the first chairman of the Royal Society and his invention was published 120 years or so before the French government adopted Wilkins invention for their legal measuring methods. See http://www.metricationmatters.com/who-invented-the-metric-system.html Bishop Wilkins called his invention a "universal measure" and this became the "metric system" following the translation of the English word, measure, into (firstly) the Italian word, metro, and then into the French word, metre. As you know the French name stuck to give us a French name for an English invention. By the way, I really was really pleased to be able to visit Bishop John Wilkins grave when I was last in London. He is buried in the Church of St Lawrence Jewry, the official church of the City of London Corporation, where he had been vicar from 1662 to 1668. Bishop Wilkins, in my opinion, deserves much more recognition of his contribution to honesty in all measurement both for the UK and for the world. Perhaps you could help with this. Cheers, ## Begin forwarded message: From: Pat Naughtin <[email protected]> > >Date: 2011 June14 6:36:30 AM AEST > >To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > >Subject: [USMA:50617] Birmingham Mail article > >Reply-To: [email protected] > > >Dear All, > > >Dear All, > > >The promoters of old pre-metric measuring words at ASDA seem to be spreading >their dishonest poison that can only do harm to the UK nation, and especially >to >school children. > > >See >http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/06/13/walsall-market-traders-back-ukip-campaign-to-resist-metric-measures-97319-28868686/ > where you will see lines like this: > > >“I welcome Asda’s decision to use imperial measurements and I hope they >roll-out >the use of British weights to other products. No-one in the UK goes to the bar >and asks for a litre of beer and people often nip out to buy a pint of milk. >It >was the EU that attempted to destroy our imperial measures. Give the EU an >inch >and it tries to take a kilometre, or should that be 0.621371192 of a mile?” >UKIP MEP MIke Nattrass is obviously unaware that the metric system was >invented >by an Englishman. >See http://www.metricationmatters.com/who-invented-the-metric-system.html > > >Cheers, > > >Pat Naughtin LCAMS >Author of the ebook, Metrication Leaders Guide, see >http://metricationmatters.com/MetricationLeadersGuideInfo.html >Hear Pat speak at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lshRAPvPZY >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/ to subscribe. > Pat Naughtin LCAMS Author of the ebook, Metrication Leaders Guide, see http://metricationmatters.com/MetricationLeadersGuideInfo.html Hear Pat speak at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lshRAPvPZY 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 to subscribe.
