William Gilbert, and Terrestial Magnetism in the Time of Queen Elizabeth A Discourse

"William Gilbert, and Terrestrial Magnetism in the Time of Queen Elizabeth" by Silvanus P. Thompson is a scientific exploration that shines a light on the life and groundbreaking work of William Gilbert, a key scientist in the era of Queen Elizabeth I. The book details Gilbert's impact on the understanding of magnetism and electricity, particularly his famous work "De Magnete." Thompson walks us through Gilbert's life, from his schooling to his important position in the Royal College of Physicians. The text shows Gilbert's experiments and ideas about how magnets work, how compasses help sailors, and the basic rules he set for Earth sciences. The story highlights Gilbert's way of doing science, how he questioned old ideas about magnetism, and how he helped us understand Earth's magnetic forces better. Thompson celebrates Gilbert as someone who changed science from guessing and supposing to testing and proving, which greatly influenced how science was done later on.