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, magnetism, bringing together for the first time electricity and light as manifestations of the same phenomenon. He was a member of the Royal society of London.

In the late 19th century, light-bearing aether, was the preconditioned interim for the spread of light. It was invoked to interpret the capacity of the obviously wave-based light to spread through empty space, something that waves should not be able to do.