French physicist who performed experiments with a torsion balance, which he invented independently of Priestley. His investigations led him to suggest that there were two "fluids" of electricity and two of magnetism. He showed both forces were inverse square, and stated that they were unconnected separate phenomena. The inverse square of electricity has come to be known as Coulomb's law, although it had been previously expounded by John Robinson.

Priestley, Robinson (John)

Additional biographies: MacTutor (St. Andrews)