Danish physicist and philosopher Hans Christian Ørsted is best known for discoverering the connection between electricity and magnetism known as electromagnetism. Ørsted was born in Rudkobing on the Danish island of Lolland. Ørsted became interested in science while working as a young boy for his father, Soren Christian Ørsted, who owned a pharmacy. Educated primarily through self-study at home, both Ørsted and his brother, Anders Sandoe Ørsted, went to Copenhagen in 1793 to take entrance exams for Copenhagen University. The brothers passed and distinguished themselves academically at the University. By 1796, Ørsted receivied honors for his papers in both aesthetics and medicine.

Although he passed his pharmaceutical examination in 1797, Ørsted continued his education and, in 1801 received a travel scholarship and public grant that was to profoundly affect his future. With the awards, Ørsted spent three years traveling in Europe. While in...