The History Of The S.I. System Of Units

The metric system began as the legal system of measurement in France during the 1800's. It was designed to replace the misunderstood and mixed-up units that were in use at the time.

Despite wars and international rivalries, the metric system has slowly spread throughout the world, although not all countries have completely adopted it. For example, England is only just changing weight system over to metric (as part of the formation of the European Union). The United States of America measure almost everything using the older imperial system of measurements, which includes things like the foot (for distance) and the pound (for weight). However, scientists in both countries use the metric system when communicating with the international scientific community.

Some Significant Dates

6th century BC

In Egypt, the "cubit" was widely used as a standard measurement of length. It was equivalent to the length of a man's arm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. But which man? (not all cubits were equal).

1585

Metric system began in France

1840

Metric system established as the legal system of measurement in France

1960

S.I. units adopted by the General Conference on Weights and Measures -- the sixth such conference since 1840. The International System was a modern form of the metric system.

1965

Australian pharmaceuticals industry converted to the metric system

1966

Decimal currency introduced in Australia

1971 - 1982

Conversion to metric system in Australia - one industry after another

1982

S.I. established in Australia as the "main" language of measurement; most countries had already converted or were in the process of converting.