Introduction
 

During the life of Charles Augustin Coulomb, he would play important roles in the developments in physics, engineering, and experimental instruments.  Coulomb was born in 1736 in the Languedoc region of France, but spent much of his early life in Paris and Montpellier.  In 1760, at the age of 24 he was accepted into Ecole du Genie, an army engineering school in France.  Once he was completed with school, he was first deployed to Brest as a military engineer.  In 1764 he was sent to Martinique in the West Indies.  There he was put in charge of building the new Fort Bourbon to attempt to make the island more secure.   While in the West Indies, Coulomb would demonstrate his engineering skills and technical knowledge which he would later recall in his memoirs.   

Image from: http://www.geocities.com/bioelectrochemistry/coulomb.htm

The weather of Martinique was not hospitable to Coulomb, with him being ill much of his tour of duty.  After nine years he was forced to return to France because these health issues. 

Upon returning to France Coulomb would take an interest in the recent research concerning electricity.  Which would eventually lead to the development of the torsion balance and the discovery of the relation which would become known as Coulomb's Law.

 

 

 

Home
 

Introduction
 

Historical Context

Coulomb's Law
 

Other Work
 

Bibliography