Lemonnier worked in physics, geology, medicine and botany. In 1746 he attempted to measure the velocity of electricity.Armed with a watch that showed seconds, an electrostatic generator, and a Leyden jar he sent a current along two wires 1850 metres long, Although his experiment was not successful in extablishing the velocity of electricty he estimated that it was at least 30 times that of sound. He went on to research electrical phenomena in thunderstorms and other weather conditions