Charles François de Cisternay du Fay (Paris, 1698 - 1739) was a French scientist and superintendent of the Jardin du Roi .

He discovered the existence of two types of electricity and named them "vitreous" and "resinous " (later known as positive and negative charge respectively.) He noted the difference between conductors and insulators, calling them 'electrics' and 'non-electrics' for their ability to produce contact electrification. He also discovered that alike-charged objects would repel each other.

External links

• Two Kinds of Electrical Fluid: Vitreous and Resinous du Fay 1733