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I don't know why the English-language version of the Wikipedia article implies that the metric system dates to 1799. The German-language and Spanish-language versions both say 1793.

France was not our ally in 1799--that was during the period of the so-called Quasi-War or Undeclared Naval War with France. The French government in 1793 wasn't exactly friendly either--they had chopped the head off of King Louis XVI, our ally in the Revolutionary War. Washington had proclaimed US neutrality in the war France was fighting in Europe.

The metric system is based on earth measurements--a kilometer was originally one ten-thousandth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole. That is meaningless in cosmic terms.

In any case, my original comment was tongue-in-cheek.

Since we're being pedantic, I didn't write that France was our ally in 1799, I said the system was first proposed then, and it was largely pushed by our first ally, even if they weren't our allies at that moment. The British were certainly not out friends.

The metric system is based on earth measurements--a kilometer was originally one ten-thousandth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole. That is meaningless in cosmic terms.

Because the distance walked by some Roman in a thousand paces is so much more "cosmic."

In any case, my original comment was tongue-in-cheek.

Mine was intended lightly also, but the fact remains that the US adopted a metric system of money during the 18th century, and should long ago have ditched the idiotic system of English distances and weights.