A bunch of pirates who lived 224 years ago can be blamed for the United States not adopting the metric system, which is a universal system of measurement that was crucial for every industrialized nation.
Metric system-simple and easy calculations:
French philosophers were the pioneers in developing the metric system in Paris in the late 18th century to make trade easier and calculations simpler. They sent an aristocrat and fellow academic, Joseph Dombey, to the U.S. in 1793 to meet with then Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson.
Tasked to persuade U.S to follow metric system:
At the time, the U.S. was desperate for some semblance of a measurement system. In his first State of the Union address, George Washington called the need for a standard unit of measurement “an object of great importance”. Jefferson was appointed to make this happen. Since France had recently helped the U.S. win the Revolutionary War, the philosophers believed Dombey could easily persuade Jefferson to convince Congress to adopt the new system.
The metric system was then made up of two standards of measurement — a rod that measured one meter and a copper cylinder that weighed one kilogram. Dombey traveled with both items.
Captured by pirates:
But on his way across the Atlantic, Dombey’s ship hit a nasty storm and he ended up in the Caribbean where pirates captured him. He died in prison shortly after his capture by the pirates.
By the time France sent someone else to the U.S., Edmond Randolph had become Secretary Of State and he didn’t really care about what measurements were used.
Though the metric system has, nevertheless, slowly made its way into American life — we buy soda in liters and U.S. companies conduct international trade using meters.
Keith Martin, a research librarian at the National Institute of Standards and Technology told, “The Dombey event is probably a bit of a footnote to history”, but had Dombey completed his journey, “it could have made a big difference”.
Did you subscribe for our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: New York Post
