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The [[metric system]] is a system of measurement developed during the [[French Revolution]] and based on permanent natural standards rather than on royal decrees. [[Joseph Lagrange]] headed the Revolutionary weights-and-measures committee that developed it and set its initial definitions.

The [[metric system]] is a system of measurement developed during the [[French Revolution]]<ref>However, according to researcher Pat Norton, the system was described a century earlier by Englishman John Wilkins.  [http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/15/1978802.htm Australian Broadcasting Corporation], [[15 July]] [[2007]] (retreived [[15 July]] [[2007]].)</ref> and based on permanent natural standards rather than on royal decrees. [[Joseph Lagrange]] headed the Revolutionary weights-and-measures committee that developed it and set its initial definitions.

Traditional systems of measurement all used standard lengths of parts of the human body, or standard distances that a human might walk. The metric system, by contrast, initially used the [[earth]] itself as the ultimate standard.

Traditional systems of measurement all used standard lengths of parts of the human body, or standard distances that a human might walk. The metric system, by contrast, initially used the [[earth]] itself as the ultimate standard.