James Clerk Maxwell (13 June 1831 – 5 November 1879) was a Scottish
scientist in the field of
mathematical physics. His most notable achievement was to formulate the classical theory of
electromagnetic radiation, bringing together for the first time electricity,
magnetism, and light as manifestations of the same phenomenon.
Maxwell's equations for electromagnetism have been called the "second great unification in physics" after the first one realised by
Isaac Newton.