The famous scientist known for his contributions to electricity and magnetism is James Clerk Maxwell. He was a Scottish physicist who formulated a set of equations, now known as Maxwell's equations, that describe how electric and magnetic fields interact and propagate through space. These equations laid the foundation for classical electromagnetism, which has profound implications for technology, including telecommunications, electrical engineering, and more. Maxwell's work also connected electricity to light, leading to advances in optics and the study of electromagnetic waves, cementing his legacy as one of the great figures in physics.