James Clerk Maxwell

James Clerk Maxwell was a Scottish mathematician and scientist responsible for the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation describing electricity, magnetism and light as different manifestations of the same phenomenon for the first time. Maxwell's equations for electromagnetism have been called the "second great unification in physics". Maxwell demonstrated that electric and magnetic fields travel through space as waves moving at the speed of light. He is also known for presenting the first durable colour photograph in 1861 and for his foundational work on analysing the rigidity of rod-and-joint frameworks. His discoveries helped usher in the era of modern physics, laying the foundation for such fields as special relativity and quantum mechanics.