Hans Christian Ørsted was a Danish physicist and chemist born on August 14, 1777. He is best known for discovering the relationship between electricity and magnetism, which laid the groundwork for the field of electromagnetism. His famous experiment in 1820 demonstrated that an electric current could influence a nearby magnetic compass, showing that electricity and magnetism are interconnected. In addition to his work in electromagnetism, Ørsted made significant contributions to chemistry and philosophy. He was also a prominent advocate for the importance of science in education and was involved in the establishment of the University of Copenhagen. Ørsted passed away on March 9, 1851, leaving a lasting legacy in the scientific community.