A Brief History of Magnets
The ancient Greeks were the first to use a naturally occurring iron ore called magnetite, the first application was the mariner's compass. Magnetite then became known as lode-stone, meaning to lead.
1600 Gilbert discovered the earth is one giant magnet.
1785 Charles Coulomb discovered the square law of attraction and repulsion between electrical charges and magnetic poles.
1820 Hans Oersted discovered that an electrical current would deflect magnetic needles.
1827 Andre-Marie Ampère published his Memoir on the Mathematical Theory of Electrodynamic Phenomena, Uniquely Deduced from Experience, the work that introduced the name of his new science, electrodynamics, and became known ever after as the founding treatise of electro-magnetism.
1830 Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction.
1865 The invention of the dynamo and the start of the era of electricity.
1873 James Maxwell published the discoveries of Gauss, Ampere and Faraday's theories today known as Maxwell's equations of the relationship of electricity and magnetism.
1921 Saw the introduction of Cobalt and Chrome steels.
1935 Aluminium, Nickel and Cobalt known as Alnico was developed.
1950 Philips produced the first non-metallic magnets know as Ferrites.
1970 Stronger Samarium Cobalt magnets, known as Rare Earth magnets became available.
1983 The Japanese patented Neodymium Iron Boron magnets.
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