The Resume

(September 18, 1819-February 11, 1868)
Born in Paris, France
Birth name was Jean Bernard Leon Foucault
Last name pronounced foo-co
Physicist
Measured the speed of light to within 1% of the currently accepted value (1862)
Namesake for the Foucault pendulum: a pendulum whose plane of oscillation appears to move as a result of the Earth rotating beneath it
First public demonstration of a Foucault pendulum was in February, 1851
Considered the first direct evidence of the Earth's rotation

Why he might be annoying:

He often held his head at an odd tilt because he was shortsighted in one eye and farsighted in the other.
He originally planned to become a doctor, but he could not stand the sight of blood.
The original Foucault pendulum was irreparably damaged when the cable supporting the bob snapped (2010).

Why he might not be annoying:

Demonstrating a showman's flair, before performing the pendulum experiment, he sent cards to the leading scientists in Paris reading, 'You are invited to come see the Earth turn, tomorrow from 3 to 5, at Meridian Hall of the Paris Observatory.'
He took the first photographs through a microscope and the first photos of the sun.
He was named an Officer of the Legion of Honor (1862).
Foucault pendulums remain popular exhibits in science museums.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 19th Century Scientists
• An Asteroid was Named in My Honor (Ranked: 5668)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 71]
• I am a Citizen of France
• I Died in the City I Was Born In
• I Have Multiple Sclerosis
• I was Home Schooled
• I'm Buried at Montmartre Cemetery in Paris
• Known By a Middle Name
• Profiles 45501-45750 (Ranked: 45502)
• Scientists

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 6 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 7 Votes: 14.29% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 12 Votes: 8.33% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 49 Votes: 34.69% Annoying