In 'A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field', published in 1865, the Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell brought together electricity, magnetism and light in a set of equations, later reduced to the four known today. His mathematics predicted that electric and magnetic fields could travel as waves at the speed of light, and he concluded that light is an electromagnetic wave. Heinrich Hertz proved that such waves exist in 1887, leading to radio, television and radar. Einstein said that the change in physics's conception of reality brought about by Maxwell was the most profound since Newton.
Before and after
- c. 1865Birth of Yun Ch'iho
- 1865Founding of Nottingham Forest F.C.
- 1865Founding of Cornell University
- from 1 January 1865 to 26 April 1865Carolinas Campaign
- 1865Maxwell publishes his theory of electromagnetism
- from 19 March 1865 to 21 March 1865Battle of Bentonville
- from 22 March 1865 to 20 April 1865Wilson's Raid
- from 29 March 1865 to 9 April 1865Appomattox campaign
- 15 April 1865Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
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The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.