“You left out the most important pioneer of them all. The ancient Greeks didn’t have a James Maxwell to help them along.”
Michael Faraday was also an important pioneer in the study of electricity. I agree, though, that Maxwell’s contribution was path-breaking: the discovery that electricity, magnetism, and light are closely related phenomenon.
What was the deal with Maxwell?? Once in a while, somebody comes along who is so damn smart it isn’t funny. I am willing to bet he had a rigorous education, and did not worry about learning people’s “preferred pronouns”.