1-152-184 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Andre-Marie Ampere (1775-1836), French mathematician and physicist. Ampere established the laws and principles which related magnetism and electricity to each other. He was appointed Professor of Physics and Chemistry at Bourg in 1801 and Professor of Mathematics in the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris in 1809. He was celebrated for his contributions to electrodynamics. In 1881, the 'ampere' became the name for the unit of electrical current, replacing the 'weber'. Portrait from obverse of a commemorative medal.