Léon Foucault
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Summary
Léon Foucault was born on September 18, 1819[1], in Paris[2]. He died on February 11, 1868[3], in Paris[4]. He worked as a physicist[5] and astronomer[6]. He ranks in the top 0.71% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (3,557 views/month, #7,108 of 1,000,298).[7]
Key Facts
- Place of burial: Montmartre Cemetery[8]
- Country of citizenship: France[9]
- Ethnic group: French[10]
- Field of work: physics[11], mechanics[12], optics[13]
- Employer: Journal des débats[14], Paris Observatory, PSL University[15]
- Educated at: Collège Stanislas de Paris[16], Paris Medical Faculty[17]
- Notable work: Foucault pendulum[18], Foucault knife-edge test[19], eddy current[20], Foucault gyroscopes[21], Fizeau–Foucault apparatus[22], Foucault's measurements of the speed of light[23], Glan–Foucault prism[24]
- Award received: Copley Medal[25], Foreign Member of the Royal Society[26], 72 names on the Eiffel Tower[27], Officer of the Legion of Honour[28]
- Member of: Royal Society[29], Société Philomathique de Paris[30], Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences[31], French Academy of Sciences[32], Russian Academy of Sciences[33], Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences[34]
- Sex or gender: male[35]
- Commons category: Léon Foucault[36]
- Cause of death: multiple sclerosis[37]
- Residence: France[38]
- Family name: Foucault[39]
- Given name: Léon[40], Jean[41], Bernard[42]
- Topic's main category: Category:Léon Foucault[43]
- Commons gallery: Jean Bernard Léon Foucault[44]
- Academic thesis: Sur les vitesses relatives de la lumière dans l’air et dans l’eau[45]
- Student of: Alfred François Donné[46]
- Manner of death: natural causes[47], mercury poisoning[48]
- Described by source: Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)[49], BEIC Digital Library[50], Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary[51], The Nuttall Encyclopædia[52], Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary[53], Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, 4th edition (1885–1890)[54], Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition[55], Physicists: Biographical Dictionary[56], Astronomers: A Biographical Reference[57]
Body
Works and Contributions
Things named for Léon Foucault include Foucault pendulum[58], a physical phenomenon[59], founded in 1851[60]; eddy current[61]; Foucault[62], a submarine[63], in France[64]; and 5668 Foucault[65], an asteroid[66].
Why It Matters
Léon Foucault has Wikipedia articles in 28 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[67] He is known by 40 alternative names across languages and contexts.[68]
He is credited with the discovery of gyroscope[69] and Fizeau–Foucault apparatus[70], a scientific instrument[71], founded in 1849[72]. Entities named for him include Foucault pendulum[58], a physical phenomenon[59], founded in 1851[60]; eddy current[61]; Foucault[62], a submarine[63], in France[64]; and 5668 Foucault[65], an asteroid[66].
FAQs
Where was Léon Foucault born?
Léon Foucault was born in Paris[2].
Where did Léon Foucault die?
Léon Foucault passed away in Paris[4].
What did Léon Foucault do for work?
Léon Foucault worked as a physicist[5] and astronomer[6].
Where did Léon Foucault go to school?
Léon Foucault was educated at Collège Stanislas de Paris[16] and Paris Medical Faculty[17].
What awards did Léon Foucault receive?
Honors received include Copley Medal[25], Foreign Member of the Royal Society[26], 72 names on the Eiffel Tower[27], and Officer of the Legion of Honour[28].
What did Léon Foucault discover?
Léon Foucault is credited as discoverer of gyroscope[69] and Fizeau–Foucault apparatus[70].