William Gilbert, also known as Gilberd, (24 May 1544 – 30 November 1603) was an English physician, physicist and natural philosopher. He was an early Copernican, and passionately rejected both the prevailing Aristotelian philosophy and the Scholastic method of university teaching. He is remembered today largely for his book De Magnete (1600), and is credited as one of the originators of the term electricity. He is regarded by some as the father of electrical engineering or electricity and magnetism. While today he is generally referred to as William Gilbert, he also went under the name of William Gilberd. The latter was used in his and his father's epitaph, the records of the town of Colchester, and in the Biographical Memoir in De Magnete, as well as in the name of The Gilberd School in Colchester, named after Gilbert. A unit of magnetomotive force, also known as magnetic potential, was named the gilbert in his honour.
Franklin Library William Gilbert books
Works of William Gilbert, William Harvey and Galileo Galilei - Great Books of the Western World - 1984
(This page contains affiliate links for which we may be compensated.)
De Magnete
De Magnete, Magneticisque Corporibus, et de Magno Magnete Tellure (On the Magnet and Magnetic Bodies, and on That Great Magnet the Earth) is a scientific work published in 1600 by the English physician and scientist William Gilbert and also by his partner Christopher Clews.In this work Gilbert describes many of his experiments with his model earth called the terrella. From the experiments, he arrived at the remarkable conclusion that the Earth was magnetic and that this was why the compass pointed north. (Previously, it was thought that Polaris or a large magnetic island at the North Pole attracted the compass). In his book, he also studied static electricity produced by amber. Amber is called elektron in Greek, and electrum in Latin, so Gilbert decided to refer to the phenomenon by the adjective electricus, giving rise to the modern terms 'electric' and 'electricity'.
De Magnete was influential not only because of the inherent interest of its subject matter, but also for the rigorous way in which Gilbert described his experiments and his rejection of ancient theories of magnetism. Gilbert nevertheless acknowledged his debt to Peter of Maricourt and incorporated this thirteenth century scientist's experiments on magnetism into his own treatise. Although his thinking was heavily influenced by the mysticism of his time, Gilbert was also one of the pioneers of experimental physics
De Magnete Summary
De Magnete consists of six books:Historical survey of magnetism and theory of Earth's magnetism.
Distinction between electricity and magnetism. Argument against perpetual motion.
The terrella experiments.
Declination (the variation of magnetic north with location).
Magnetic dip and Design of the magnetic inclinometer.
Magnetic theory of stellar and terrestrial motion. Precession of the equinox.
Source and additional information: William Gilbert (Physicist)