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Metric system,

A uniform decimal system of weights and measures, originated in France with a committee of eminent scientists, named by the Academy of Sciences by order of the Constituent Assembly, May 8, 1790. The basis of the system is the metre, which is 3.37 inches longer than the American “yard.” This base, determined by Delambre and Mechain, is the 1-40,000,000 part of the circumference of the earth on the meridian extending through France from Dunkirk to Barcelona. It was made the unit of length and the base of the system by law, April 7, 1795. A prototype metre was constructed in platinum by an international commission, representing the governments of France, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, [168] Spain, Savoy, and the Roman, Cisalpine, and Ligurian republics, in 1799. The unit of weight is the gramme, the weight of a cubic centimetre of water at 4° centigrade (the temperature of greatest density). The unit of measure of surface is the are, which is the square of the decametre, or 10 metres. The unit of measure of capacity is the stere, or cubic metre. The system is now in use in the United States Marine Hospital service, in the foreign business of the post-office, in the United States coast and geodetic survey, and to some extent in the mint, United States signal service, and United States census:

Decimal system of money adopted by the United States Congress, with the dollar as a unitJuly 6, 1785
John Quincy Adams, United States Secretary of State, makes an elaborate report on the metric system to CongressFeb. 23, 1821
By legislation of July 4, 1837, the use of the system in France is enforced, to take effectJan. 1, 1840
International Decimal Association formed1855
Canada adopts the decimal currency used in United StatesJan. 1, 1858
Metric weight of 5 grammes (77.16 grains) and diameter of 2 centimetres given to the 5-cent copper nickel piece in the United States by act of CongressMay 16, 1866
Use in the United States authorized by act of Congress, and table of equivalents approvedJuly 28, 1866
Convention establishing an international bureau of weights and measures signed at Paris by representatives of Austria, Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, United States, Argentine Republic, Brazil, and PeruMay 20, 1875
International congress on weights and measures meets at ParisSept. 4, 1878

Metric system.

Unit of the measure of length.

Metre = 39.37 inches.

Decametre10metres.
Hectometre100metres.
Kilometre1,000metres.
Myriametre10,000metres.
Decimetre.1 metre.
Centimetre.01metres.
Millimetre.001metres.

Unit of the measure of surface.

Centare = 1 sq. metre = 1,550 sq. inches.

Are100 centares.
Hectare10,000 centares.

Unit of the measure of capacity and solidity.

Litre = cube of .1 metre (decimetre) = 61.022 cubic inches or .908 qt.

Decalitre10litres.
Hectolitre100litres.
Kilolitre or stere1,000litres.
Decilitre.1litre.
Centilitre.01litres.
Millilitre.001litres.

Unit of weight.

Gramme = cube of .01 metre (centimetre) =.061022 cubic inch or 15.432 grs.

Decagramme10grammes.
Hectogramme100grammes.
Kilogramme1,000grammes.
Myriagramme10,000grammes.
Quintal100,000grammes.
Miller or Tonneau1,000,000grammes.
Decigramme.1gramme.
Centigramme.01grammes.
Milligramme.001grammes.

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