Quinton Shipps
Dr. Haddox
European Survey
13 October 2017
Longitude: A Tale Of History and Navigation Longitude, by Dava Sobel, is a work of historical nonfiction that tells the tale of John Harrison who, through hard work and determination, helped solve the centuries old issue of determining longitude while at sea. Sobel uses interviews with historians, as well as her own personal reading and studies to piece together the most accurate account of the events and individuals surrounding Harrison’s invention of the marine chronometer. The story is told in an easy to absorb format that welcomes fans of history and casual readers alike. Sobel’s work is an informative, interesting, and easy to read book that leaves readers feeling both educated …show more content…
She remembers holding in her hands a toy that seems to be much like the globe held by Atlas. She describes the current state of the lines of latitude and longitude and remembers learning about them in school even as a young child. Stories about the concepts follow, which eventually lead back to times before longitude could be easily calculated, when ships had to rely on other methods to try and determine their position. Times during which many ships crashed and many lives were lost.
Chapter two gives the account of the unfortunate Admiral Sir Clowdisley, who mistakenly sinks his fleet in an incident that costs all but two men involved their lives. On a foggy night in October of 1707, Sir Clowdisley mistakenly sends his fleet through the Scillies after he incorrectly judges their longitude.
Subsequent chapters detail the creation of the Longitude Act, with its twenty thousand pound reward, and the board of scientists dedicated to evaluating proposed solutions to the problem of determining longitude. Thacker presented the board with its first potential solution, but his invention was eventually shot down due to the fact that it could lose six entire seconds in a day--double that set by the board as the standard to officially solve the problem and win the twenty thousand …show more content…
With his knowledge of clockmaking in hand, Harrison set about devising a non-pendulum clock that would be able to withstand changing temperatures and the rocking motion of ships.
Chapters eight through ten tell of the years between Harrison’s proposal to the longitude board and his final creation, H-4. After his proposal Harrison quickly created his first maritime chronometer H-1. He iterated over it several time, each time compacting and making improvements over the last. Chapter eleven tells of the first test of H-4 and its success--losing only five seconds after eighty one full days at sea.
The board eventually awards Harrison only one thousand and five hundred pounds saying that, although his invention is useful, it does not meet their requirements for the
Dr. Haddox
European Survey
13 October 2017
Longitude: A Tale Of History and Navigation Longitude, by Dava Sobel, is a work of historical nonfiction that tells the tale of John Harrison who, through hard work and determination, helped solve the centuries old issue of determining longitude while at sea. Sobel uses interviews with historians, as well as her own personal reading and studies to piece together the most accurate account of the events and individuals surrounding Harrison’s invention of the marine chronometer. The story is told in an easy to absorb format that welcomes fans of history and casual readers alike. Sobel’s work is an informative, interesting, and easy to read book that leaves readers feeling both educated …show more content…
She remembers holding in her hands a toy that seems to be much like the globe held by Atlas. She describes the current state of the lines of latitude and longitude and remembers learning about them in school even as a young child. Stories about the concepts follow, which eventually lead back to times before longitude could be easily calculated, when ships had to rely on other methods to try and determine their position. Times during which many ships crashed and many lives were lost.
Chapter two gives the account of the unfortunate Admiral Sir Clowdisley, who mistakenly sinks his fleet in an incident that costs all but two men involved their lives. On a foggy night in October of 1707, Sir Clowdisley mistakenly sends his fleet through the Scillies after he incorrectly judges their longitude.
Subsequent chapters detail the creation of the Longitude Act, with its twenty thousand pound reward, and the board of scientists dedicated to evaluating proposed solutions to the problem of determining longitude. Thacker presented the board with its first potential solution, but his invention was eventually shot down due to the fact that it could lose six entire seconds in a day--double that set by the board as the standard to officially solve the problem and win the twenty thousand …show more content…
With his knowledge of clockmaking in hand, Harrison set about devising a non-pendulum clock that would be able to withstand changing temperatures and the rocking motion of ships.
Chapters eight through ten tell of the years between Harrison’s proposal to the longitude board and his final creation, H-4. After his proposal Harrison quickly created his first maritime chronometer H-1. He iterated over it several time, each time compacting and making improvements over the last. Chapter eleven tells of the first test of H-4 and its success--losing only five seconds after eighty one full days at sea.
The board eventually awards Harrison only one thousand and five hundred pounds saying that, although his invention is useful, it does not meet their requirements for the