Meter measurement standard

The French Revolution did much more than put an (almost) end to monarchy in France.  The first government after the revolution also tried to identify new measurements - the metric system (successfully) and the 10 hour day (unsuccessfully!).  In 1791 the Science Academy defined the meter as 1 10-millionth of a quarter of the circumferance of the earth and in 1796 the government imposed the meter as the universal measurement, replacing all the others, as a single system.  The trouble (before internet, TV, radio!) was to inform the people!  In Paris, 16 Standards were established throughout the city.  This one, across from the Senate (Luxembourg Palace) is the only original one remaining, though a second is visible at the Place Vendome, where it was subsequently placed.  Later, Napoleon helped spreading the system through his Empire in Europe...
(The meter has since been defined in reference to the speed of light.)