[emeritus]

I have an old physics textbook that has a historical introduction setting out the development of the science. It includes some direct quotations from the works of early scientists. Apparently Sir Isaac Newton and his English contemporaries normally used French units of measurement, such as the Paris Foot and the Toise, reflecting the high status of French science before the revolutonaries executed or expelled many of their scientists for being elitist. Weights and measures were not standardised throughout Britain at that time. Different towns had their own standards until the use of imperial standards was made mandatory in Victorian times, although (no doubt due to Prince Albert's influence) metric standards were also legalised for alternative use for many purposes, but seldom used in everyday commerce).