Who created the Beaufort scale for describing wind force at sea?

Francis Beaufort created the Beaufort scale for describing wind force at sea.

Beaufort, an Irish-born Royal Navy officer, developed the scale in 1805 while serving aboard HMS Woolwich. It originally connected wind force with the visible effects of wind on a sailing ship, such as how much sail a vessel could carry and how the sea surface looked.

The scale initially ran from 0 to 12, with 0 meaning calm conditions and 12 meaning hurricane-force wind. It was not originally based on exact wind-speed measurements, but later meteorologists assigned standard speed ranges to each number. The World Meteorological Organization now uses a standardized version.

A common mix-up is crediting Robert FitzRoy, who later helped popularize weather forecasting and weather charts. Beaufort’s scale is still used in marine reports, while modern weather services usually give wind speed in knots, kilometers per hour, or miles per hour as well.