Oersted, << UR stehd, >> Hans Christian (1777-1851), a Danish physicist, laid the foundation for the science of electromagnetism (see Electromagnetism ). Oersted is also credited with producing the first aluminum, in 1825. See Aluminum (The first aluminum) . The oersted, a unit of measure of magnetic field intensity, is named for him.
Oersted was born in Rudkobing, Denmark, on Aug. 14, 1777. He studied astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, pharmacy, and physics at Copenhagen University, earning his Ph.D. degree in 1799. He then traveled throughout Europe to learn about electricity from other physicists. Upon returning to Denmark, Oersted gave public lectures that earned him the reputation of being a great teacher. He was offered a professorship at Copenhagen University in 1806. During a lecture in 1820, he noticed that the needle of a compass wavered every time he put it near a wire carrying a current. He had discovered that every conductor carrying an electric current is surrounded by a magnetic field. Before this discovery, electricity and magnetism were thought to be independent forces. Oersted was also influenced by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant and wrote about his own philosophical ideas in the Spirit of Nature (1850). Oersted died on March 9, 1851.
