2. America missed out on the metric system due to the misfortunes of a French scientist.
It is possible that in the eighteenth century, the US may have adopted the metric system of measurements if it were not for a series of unfortunate events that befell Frenchman Joseph Dombey. Dombey was sent to America in 1794 to help the Americans reform the imperial system of measurements inherited from the British. He took with him copper prototypes for the newly devised meter and kilometer, which he intended to present to Congress. However, his ship was blown off course to Guadeloupe where French royalists imprisoned him. H, Dombey was released- only to be captured by pirates who stole his measurements and held him for ransom. While in captivity the unfortunate Frenchman died of a fever- thus depriving America of the metric system.