The invention of the pendulum is primarily credited to the Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens. In 1656, Huygens developed the first pendulum clock, which utilized the swinging motion of a pendulum to regulate timekeeping.
Before Huygens, the concept of a pendulum had been explored, but he was the first to understand and apply its properties effectively in clockmaking. His design vastly improved the accuracy of timekeeping devices, making pendulum clocks some of the most precise timekeeping instruments of their time.
The pendulum functions on the principle of periodic motion, where the time it takes to swing back and forth remains constant under the influence of gravity. This groundbreaking work laid the foundation for further advancements in horology and physics.