Scientist. He was a 16th century English physicist, who was a pioneer in the research of magnetism, along with being a learned physician and philosopher. Born into a wealthy family, the son of a lawyer, he used his inheritance to perform scientific experiments. From these experiments, he discovered that the Earth has two magnetic poles. In 1600, he published "On the Magnet and Magnetic Bodies, and on the Great Magnet the Earth," which is considered the first great book on physics published in England. Published about eighteen years after his experiments, the purpose of his book was to replace the errors made by ancient theorizing philosophers with healthy facts proven from his experiments. His discovery was the basis for the compass, which led to ships traveling across the Atlantic Ocean to the "new world" much safer. He is considered one of the founding fathers of modern-day science. He was a pioneer researcher with electricity and coined the Latin word "electricitas", which soon became the English word electricity. He made the world's first electroscope, which he called a versorium. The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed any documentation of his childhood. After studying at home or at a royal school, he was documented studying at Cambridge starting at age 14 and becoming a physician in 1569. This followed with him traveling to Italy to practice for two years. Though some sources claim that he studied with Galileo during this visit, Galileo, who was born in 1564, was a child during his time in Italy. After being involved with regulating the medical profession for some years, he was made the President of London's College of Physicians in 1600. In 1601 he was appointed the private physician to Queen Elizabeth I, and upon her death in 1603, the physician to King James I. Upon Queen Elizabeth I's death, he was granted funding to continue his experiments. As a philosopher, he did mix the mystic with science at times. Later that year, he died with the cause of death probably being bubonic plague as thirty thousand Londoners died during that year in an epidemic. He never married. The surname Gilbert is the modern spelling as in his time, his surname was "Gilberd" or "Gylberd." With no impact to the scientific community, his half-brother published in 1651 some of his unfinished writing as "New Philosophy about our Sublunary World". He was buried in his hometown in Holy Trinity Church in Colchester and has a monument at St. Johns College.

Scientist. He was a 16th century English physicist, who was a pioneer in the research of magnetism, along with being a learned physician and philosopher. Born into a wealthy family, the son of a lawyer, he used his inheritance to perform scientific experiments. From these experiments, he discovered that the Earth has two magnetic poles. In 1600, he published "On the Magnet and Magnetic Bodies, and on the Great Magnet the Earth," which is considered the first great book on physics published in England. Published about eighteen years after his experiments, the purpose of his book was to replace the errors made by ancient theorizing philosophers with healthy facts proven from his experiments. His discovery was the basis for the compass, which led to ships traveling across the Atlantic Ocean to the "new world" much safer. He is considered one of the founding fathers of modern-day science. He was a pioneer researcher with electricity and coined the Latin word "electricitas", which soon became the English word electricity. He made the world's first electroscope, which he called a versorium. The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed any documentation of his childhood. After studying at home or at a royal school, he was documented studying at Cambridge starting at age 14 and becoming a physician in 1569. This followed with him traveling to Italy to practice for two years. Though some sources claim that he studied with Galileo during this visit, Galileo, who was born in 1564, was a child during his time in Italy. After being involved with regulating the medical profession for some years, he was made the President of London's College of Physicians in 1600. In 1601 he was appointed the private physician to Queen Elizabeth I, and upon her death in 1603, the physician to King James I. Upon Queen Elizabeth I's death, he was granted funding to continue his experiments. As a philosopher, he did mix the mystic with science at times. Later that year, he died with the cause of death probably being bubonic plague as thirty thousand Londoners died during that year in an epidemic. He never married. The surname Gilbert is the modern spelling as in his time, his surname was "Gilberd" or "Gylberd." With no impact to the scientific community, his half-brother published in 1651 some of his unfinished writing as "New Philosophy about our Sublunary World". He was buried in his hometown in Holy Trinity Church in Colchester and has a monument at St. Johns College.

Bio by: Linda Davis