17th Century Pioneer

William Gilbert (1544 – 1603)   English.

His work “ Of Magnets, Magnetic Bodies and the Great Magnet of the Earth” was one of England’s first great scientific works. The unit of magnetomotive force – the Gilbert – was named in his honor.

Electric force, electric attraction and magnetic pole are terms that are attributed to Gilbert.

In his later years, he was a physician to the Queen of England, Elizabeth I.