Who created the Beaufort wind force scale used to describe wind strength?

Francis Beaufort created the Beaufort wind force scale used to describe wind strength.

Beaufort, a British naval officer and hydrographer, developed the scale in 1805 while serving in the Royal Navy. It originally linked wind force to the effects of wind on sailing ships and the amount of canvas a vessel could carry, rather than directly measuring wind speed.

The scale was later standardized so that each force corresponded to observable conditions at sea and on land. In modern meteorology, the scale runs from Force 0, calm, to Force 12, hurricane-force wind. Although instruments now provide precise speeds, Beaufort descriptions remain useful for observations and public weather reports.

Beaufort did not invent the anemometer, which measures wind speed directly. His contribution was a practical classification system based on visible effects and operational experience.