The first definition of the metre
August 1 could well be celebrated as metre’s birthday as it was on this day in 1793 that the French National Assembly “affirmed the decimal system and the meridianal definition of the meter”. In the course of the 230-plus years that have followed, the definition of metre has changed a number of times. A.S.Ganesh grabs a wooden 1m ruler to draw your attention to its length…
· 8/13/2026, 11:24:58 AM· 2 min read
August 1 could well be celebrated as metre’s birthday as it was on this day in 1793 that the French National Assembly “affirmed the decimal system and the meridianal definition of the meter”. In the course of the 230-plus years that have followed, the definition of metre has changed a number of times. A.S.Ganesh grabs a wooden 1m ruler to draw your attention to its length…
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