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The [[metric system]] was conceived by a group of scientists (among them, [[Antoine Lavoisier|Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier]], who is known as the "father of modern chemistry") who had been commissioned by the ''[[Assemblee Nationale|Assemblée nationale]]'' and [[Louis XVI]] of France to create a unified and rational system of measures.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www1.bipm.org/en/si/history-si/name_kg.html|title=The name "kilogram"|accessdate=25 July 2006}}</ref> On 1 August 1793, the National Convention adopted the new decimal ''[[metre]]'' with a provisional length as well as the other decimal units with preliminary definitions and terms. On 7 April 1795 (''Loi du 18 germinal, an III'') the terms ''[[gram]]me'' and ''[[kilogram]]me'' replaced the former terms ''gravet'' (correctly ''milligrave'') and ''[[grave (unit)|grave]]'' and on 22 June 1799, after [[Pierre Méchain]] and [[Jean-Baptiste Delambre]] completed their survey, the definitive standard metre was deposited in the French National Archives. On 10 December 1799 (a month after [[coup of 18 Brumaire|Napoleon's coup d'état]]), the metric system was definitively adopted in France.