discovery longitude sea great britain (12 resultados)

Soft cover. Condición: Very Good. 1st Edition. Folio (11.5 inches). 9 George IV, Chapter 66. Caption title, pages 693-694. Engraved Royal coat of arms. Neatly extracted from a bound volume. Small stain at upper edge. Somewhat closely trimmed along inner edge. The Longitude Act (1714) originally offered prize money of up to GBP 20,000 (reduced to GBP 10,000 in 1774) for a reliable and accurate method of determining Longitude at Sea. The programs for maritime discovery were expanded in 1745, 1776, and 1818 to include the search for a North West Passage north of fifty-two degrees north latitude between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, with reward money of up to GBP 20,000. The program was further expanded to include a reward of GBP 5,000 to the commander and crew of any ship or vessel that successfully approached the North Pole to within one degree. The government-appointed Board of Longitude administered the programs, scrutinized submissions, awarded prize money, and oversaw publishing of Nautical Almanacs used in the Lunar Distance Method of calculating Longitude at Sea. Objectives and rules were outlined in some two dozen Parliamentary Acts issued between 1714 and 1821. The Longitude at Sea program was successful in multiple ways, and facilitated important advances in mathematics, astronomy, horology, navigation, and Arctic exploration. Over the life of the program, a total of GBP 53,000 in prize money was awarded to more than sixty participants. The most prominent and successful competitor was John Harrison (1693-1776), who received disbursements of GBP 22,000 over a period of 35 years for his brilliant discoveries and invention of the marine chronometer. By this Act of 1828, all prior Acts relating to rewards and incentives for the discovery of Longitude at Sea were repealed. A proviso extended the rules and rewards for the discovery of a North West Passage and close approach to the North Pole, but only for ships that had sailed from British ports prior to the passing of the Act. The Board of Longitude, which had overseen the programs of discovery, was unceremoniously dismantled and faded into history. Nautical Almanacs continued to be funded and printed under the direction of the Admiralty.

Soft cover. Condición: Very Good. 1st Edition. Folio (11.25 inches). 55 George III, Chapter 75. Caption title, pages 669-671. Engraved Royal coat of arms. Neatly extracted from a bound volume and expertly mended. One of the greatest dangers facing early mariners was the inability to determine accurate position at sea. Over the centuries, many lives had been lost at sea, but it was the loss of nearly 2,000 lives in 1707 (when four British navy ships ran aground as a result of miscalculated longitude) that prompted a Parliamentary investigation. The resultant Longitude Act (1714) offered prize money of up to GBP 20,000 (reduced to GBP 10,000 in 1774) for a reliable and accurate method of determining Longitude at Sea. The contest was expanded in 1745 and 1765 to include the search for a North West Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, also with reward money of up to GBP 20,000. The program was further broadened in 1818 to include navigation to the high Arctic and the North Pole (with prize money of up to GBP 5,000) and relaxed certain regulations to entice northern whale hunters to participate in the contest. Research and related experimentation were also encouraged, and award money was made available for lesser discoveries and specific improvements. The competitions attracted the skill and imagination of the greatest scientific minds and mariners of the time. It was known that the Earth rotated through fifteen degrees of longitude every hour, and if the exact times were known for two locations (the local time, and the time at some geographically known location, such as the Royal Observatory at Greenwich), the time difference would represent the longitudinal separation. For this method, an accurate knowledge of time was essential, and spawned the race to develop a reliable marine chronometer that could maintain accurate time during long and rough voyages. Competing with the Chronometer Method were the mathematicians who promoted the Lunar Distance Method, whereby longitude could be calculated using certain astronomical measurements combined with specific numerical corrections that were made available in yearly Nautical Almanacs. The government-appointed Board of Longitude administered the program, scrutinized submissions, awarded prize money, and oversaw publishing of Nautical Almanacs. Objectives and rules were outlined in some two dozen Parliamentary Acts issued between 1714 and 1828. The Longitude at Sea program was successful in multiple ways, and facilitated important advances in mathematics, astronomy, horology, navigation, and Arctic exploration. Over the life of the program, a total of GBP 53,000 in prize money was awarded to more than sixty participants. The most prominent and successful competitor was John Harrison (1693-1776), who received disbursements of GBP 22,000 over a period of 35 years for his brilliant discoveries and invention of the marine chronometer. The Longitude Act (1815) extended the aims of the Longitude Act (1806) and approved an additional GBP 10,000 for paying current debts, conducting related experiments, and for awards to recognize lesser contributory discoveries as approved by the Commissioners of the Board of Longitude.

Soft cover. Condición: Very Good. 1st Edition. Folio (11.75 inches). 46 George III, Chapter 77. Caption title, pages 709-711. Engraved Royal coat of arms. Neatly extracted from a bound volume and expertly mended. One of the greatest dangers facing early mariners was the inability to determine accurate position at sea. Over the centuries, many lives had been lost at sea, but it was the loss of nearly 2,000 lives in 1707 (when four British navy ships ran aground as a result of miscalculated longitude) that prompted a Parliamentary investigation. The resultant Longitude Act (1714) offered prize money of up to GBP 20,000 (reduced to GBP 10,000 in 1774) for a reliable and accurate method of determining Longitude at Sea. The contest was expanded in 1745 and 1765 to include the search for a North West Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, also with reward money of up to GBP 20,000. The program was further broadened in 1818 to include navigation to the high Arctic and the North Pole (with prize money of up to GBP 5,000) and relaxed certain regulations to entice northern whale hunters to participate in the contest. Research and related experimentation were also encouraged, and award money was made available for lesser discoveries and specific improvements. The competitions attracted the skill and imagination of the greatest scientific minds and mariners of the time. It was known that the Earth rotated through fifteen degrees of longitude every hour, and if the exact times were known for two locations (the local time, and the time at some geographically known location, such as the Royal Observatory at Greenwich), the time difference would represent the longitudinal separation. For this method, an accurate knowledge of time was essential, and spawned the race to develop a reliable marine chronometer that could maintain accurate time during long and rough voyages. Competing with the Chronometer Method were the mathematicians who promoted the Lunar Distance Method, whereby longitude could be calculated using certain astronomical measurements combined with specific numerical corrections that were made available in yearly Nautical Almanacs. The government-appointed Board of Longitude administered the program, scrutinized submissions, awarded prize money, and oversaw publishing of Nautical Almanacs. Objectives and rules were outlined in some two dozen Parliamentary Acts issued between 1714 and 1828. The Longitude at Sea program was successful in multiple ways, and facilitated important advances in mathematics, astronomy, horology, navigation, and Arctic exploration. Over the life of the program, a total of GBP 53,000 in prize money was awarded to more than sixty participants. The most prominent and successful competitor was John Harrison (1693-1776), who received disbursements of GBP 22,000 over a period of 35 years for his brilliant discoveries and invention of the marine chronometer. The Longitude Act (1806) extended the aims of the Longitude Act (1803) and approved an additional GBP 10,000 for paying current debts, conducting related experiments, and for awards to recognize lesser contributory discoveries as approved by the Commissioners of the Board of Longitude.

Soft cover. Condición: Very Good. 1st Edition. Folio (11.5 inches). 43 George III, Chapter 118. Caption title, pages 1189-1194 + conjugate blank leaf. Engraved Royal coat of arms. Neatly extracted from a bound volume. One of the greatest dangers facing early mariners was the inability to determine accurate position at sea. Over the centuries, many lives had been lost at sea, but it was the loss of nearly 2,000 lives in 1707 (when four British navy ships ran aground as a result of miscalculated longitude) that prompted a Parliamentary investigation. The resultant Longitude Act (1714) offered prize money of up to GBP 20,000 (reduced to GBP 10,000 in 1774) for a reliable and accurate method of determining Longitude at Sea. The contest was expanded in 1745 and 1765 to include the search for a North West Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, also with reward money of up to GBP 20,000. The program was further broadened in 1818 to include navigation to the high Arctic and the North Pole (with prize money of up to GBP 5,000) and relaxed certain regulations to entice northern whale hunters to participate in the contest. Research and related experimentation were also encouraged, and award money was made available for lesser discoveries and specific improvements. The competitions attracted the skill and imagination of the greatest scientific minds and mariners of the time. It was known that the Earth rotated through fifteen degrees of longitude every hour, and if the exact times were known for two locations (the local time, and the time at some geographically known location, such as the Royal Observatory at Greenwich), the time difference would represent the longitudinal separation. For this method, an accurate knowledge of time was essential, and spawned the race to develop a reliable marine chronometer that could maintain accurate time during long and rough voyages. Competing with the Chronometer Method were the mathematicians who promoted the Lunar Distance Method, whereby longitude could be calculated using certain astronomical measurements combined with specific numerical corrections that were made available in yearly Nautical Almanacs. The government-appointed Board of Longitude administered the program, scrutinized submissions, awarded prize money, and oversaw publishing of Nautical Almanacs. Objectives and rules were outlined in some two dozen Parliamentary Acts issued between 1714 and 1828. The Longitude at Sea program was successful in multiple ways, and facilitated important advances in mathematics, astronomy, horology, navigation, and Arctic exploration. Over the life of the program, a total of GBP 53,000 in prize money was awarded to more than sixty participants. The most prominent and successful competitor was John Harrison (1693-1776), who received disbursements of GBP 22,000 over a period of 35 years for his brilliant discoveries and invention of the marine chronometer. The Longitude Act (1803) recited the authority of the 1765 Act concerning approval by the Board of Longitude for publishing and printing annual Nautical Almanacs from 1799 through 1806, and prescribed updated procedures for future Nautical Almanacs and penalties for pirated copies. As well, an additional GBP 5,000 was approved for paying current debts, conducting related experiments, and for awards to recognize lesser contributory discoveries as approved by the Commissioners of the Board of Longitude.

Soft cover. Condición: Very Good. 1st Edition. Folio (11.75 inches). 30 George III, Chapter 14. Title leaf + pages 383-387. Engraved Royal coat of arms, headpiece, and decorative initial. Text in Black Letter. Neatly extracted from a bound volume and expertly mended. One of the greatest dangers facing early mariners was the inability to determine accurate position at sea. Over the centuries, many lives had been lost at sea, but it was the loss of nearly 2,000 lives in 1707 (when four British navy ships ran aground as a result of miscalculated longitude) that prompted a Parliamentary investigation. The resultant Longitude Act (1714) offered prize money of up to GBP 20,000 (reduced to GBP 10,000 in 1774) for a reliable and accurate method of determining Longitude at Sea. The contest was expanded in 1745 and 1765 to include the search for a North West Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, also with reward money of up to GBP 20,000. The program was further broadened in 1818 to include navigation to the high Arctic and the North Pole (with prize money of up to GBP 5,000) and relaxed certain regulations to entice northern whale hunters to participate in the contest. Research and related experimentation were also encouraged, and award money was made available for lesser discoveries and specific improvements. The competitions attracted the skill and imagination of the greatest scientific minds and mariners of the time. It was known that the Earth rotated through fifteen degrees of longitude every hour, and if the exact times were known for two locations (the local time, and the time at some geographically known location, such as the Royal Observatory at Greenwich), the time difference would represent the longitudinal separation. For this method, an accurate knowledge of time was essential, and spawned the race to develop a reliable marine chronometer that could maintain accurate time during long and rough voyages. Competing with the Chronometer Method were the mathematicians who promoted the Lunar Distance Method, whereby longitude could be calculated using certain astronomical measurements combined with specific numerical corrections that were made available in yearly Nautical Almanacs. The government-appointed Board of Longitude administered the program, scrutinized submissions, awarded prize money, and oversaw publishing of Nautical Almanacs. Objectives and rules were outlined in some two dozen Parliamentary Acts issued between 1714 and 1828. The Longitude at Sea program was successful in multiple ways, and facilitated important advances in mathematics, astronomy, horology, navigation, and Arctic exploration. Over the life of the program, a total of GBP 53,000 in prize money was awarded to more than sixty participants. The most prominent and successful competitor was John Harrison (1693-1776), who received disbursements of GBP 22,000 over a period of 35 years for his brilliant discoveries and invention of the marine chronometer. The Longitude Act (1790) reiterated specific goals of the program (as revised by the 1774 and 1781 Longitude Acts), and approved an additional GBP 5,000 for continued research work and experimentation and for awards to recognize lesser contributory discoveries as approved by the Commissioners of the Board of Longitude. The 1790 Act also confirmed that the Secretary of the Admiralty had been appointed to the Board of Longitude.

Soft cover. Condición: Very Good. 1st Edition. Folio (11.5 inches). 21 George III, Chapter 52. Title leaf + pages 1423-1426. Engraved Royal coat of arms, headpiece, and decorative initial. Text in Black Letter. Neatly extracted from a bound volume and expertly mended. One of the greatest dangers facing early mariners was the inability to determine accurate position at sea. Over the centuries, many lives had been lost at sea, but it was the loss of nearly 2,000 lives in 1707 (when four British navy ships ran aground as a result of miscalculated longitude) that prompted a Parliamentary investigation. The resultant Longitude Act (1714) offered prize money of up to GBP 20,000 (reduced to GBP 10,000 in 1774) for a reliable and accurate method of determining Longitude at Sea. The contest was expanded in 1745 and 1765 to include the search for a North West Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, also with reward money of up to GBP 20,000. The program was further broadened in 1818 to include navigation to the high Arctic and the North Pole (with prize money of up to GBP 5,000) and relaxed certain regulations to entice northern whale hunters to participate in the contest. Research and related experimentation were also encouraged, and award money was made available for lesser discoveries and specific improvements. The competitions attracted the skill and imagination of the greatest scientific minds and mariners of the time. It was known that the Earth rotated through fifteen degrees of longitude every hour, and if the exact times were known for two locations (the local time, and the time at some geographically known location, such as the Royal Observatory at Greenwich), the time difference would represent the longitudinal separation. For this method, an accurate knowledge of time was essential, and spawned the race to develop a reliable marine chronometer that could maintain accurate time during long and rough voyages. Competing with the Chronometer Method were the mathematicians who promoted the Lunar Distance Method, whereby longitude could be calculated using certain astronomical measurements combined with specific numerical corrections that were made available in yearly Nautical Almanacs. The government-appointed Board of Longitude administered the program, scrutinized submissions, awarded prize money, and oversaw publishing of Nautical Almanacs. Objectives and rules were outlined in some two dozen Parliamentary Acts issued between 1714 and 1828. The Longitude at Sea program was successful in multiple ways, and facilitated important advances in mathematics, astronomy, horology, navigation, and Arctic exploration. Over the life of the program, a total of GBP 53,000 in prize money was awarded to more than sixty participants. The most prominent and successful competitor was John Harrison (1693-1776), who received disbursements of GBP 22,000 over a period of 35 years for his brilliant discoveries and invention of the marine chronometer. The Longitude Act (1781) reiterated specific goals of the program (as revised by the 1774 and 1780 Longitude Acts), and approved an additional GBP 5,000 for continued research work and experimentation and for awards to recognize lesser contributory discoveries as approved by the Commissioners of the Board of Longitude.

Soft cover. Condición: Very Good. 1st Edition. Folio (12 inches). 5 George III, Chapter 11. Title leaf + pages 271-274. Woodcut Royal coat of arms and decorative initial. Text in Black Letter. Neatly extracted from a bound volume. One of the greatest dangers facing early mariners was the inability to determine accurate position at sea. Over the centuries, many lives had been lost at sea, but it was the loss of nearly 2,000 lives in 1707 (when four British navy ships ran aground as a result of miscalculated longitude) that prompted a Parliamentary investigation. The resultant Longitude Act (1714) offered prize money of up to GBP 20,000 for a reliable and accurate method of determining Longitude at Sea. The contest was expanded in 1745 and 1765 to include the search for a North West Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, also with reward money of up to GBP 20,000. The program was further broadened in 1818 to include navigation to the high Arctic and the North Pole (with prize money of up to GBP 5,000) and relaxed certain regulations to entice northern whale hunters to participate in the contest. Research and related experimentation were also encouraged, and award money was made available for lesser discoveries and specific improvements. The competitions attracted the skill and imagination of the greatest scientific minds and mariners of the time. It was known that the Earth rotated through fifteen degrees of longitude every hour, and if the exact times were known for two locations (the local time, and the time at some geographically known location, such as the Royal Observatory at Greenwich), the time difference would represent the longitudinal separation. For this method, an accurate knowledge of time was essential, and spawned the race to develop a reliable marine chronometer that could maintain accurate time during long and rough voyages. Competing with the Chronometer Method were the mathematicians who promoted the Lunar Distance Method, whereby longitude could be calculated using certain astronomical measurements combined with specific numerical corrections that were made available in yearly Nautical Almanacs. The government-appointed Board of Longitude administered the program, scrutinized submissions, awarded prize money, and oversaw publishing of Nautical Almanacs. Objectives and rules were outlined in some two dozen Parliamentary Acts issued between 1714 and 1828. The Longitude at Sea program was successful in multiple ways, and facilitated important advances in mathematics, astronomy, horology, navigation, and Arctic exploration. Over the life of the program, a total of GBP 53,000 in prize money was awarded to more than sixty participants. The most prominent and successful competitor was John Harrison (1693-1776), who received disbursements of GBP 22,000 over a period of 35 years for his brilliant discoveries and invention of the marine chronometer. The Longitude Act (1765) reiterated specific goals of the program, and approved an additional GBP 2,000 for continued research work and experimentation.

Soft cover. Condición: Very Good. 1st Edition. Folio (11.75 inches). 2 George III, Chapter 18. Title leaf + pages 675-678. Woodcut Royal coat of arms and decorative initial. Text in Black Letter. Neatly extracted from a bound volume and expertly mended. One of the greatest dangers facing early mariners was the inability to determine accurate position at sea. Over the centuries, many lives had been lost at sea, but it was the loss of nearly 2,000 lives in 1707 (when four British navy ships ran aground as a result of miscalculated longitude) that prompted a Parliamentary investigation. The resultant Longitude Act (1714) offered prize money of up to GBP 20,000 for a reliable and accurate method of determining Longitude at Sea. The contest was expanded in 1745 and 1765 to include the search for a North West Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, also with reward money of up to GBP 20,000. The program was further broadened in 1818 to include navigation to the high Arctic and the North Pole (with prize money of up to GBP 5,000) and relaxed certain regulations to entice northern whale hunters to participate in the contest. Research and related experimentation were also encouraged, and award money was made available for lesser discoveries and specific improvements. The competitions attracted the skill and imagination of the greatest scientific minds and mariners of the time. It was known that the Earth rotated through fifteen degrees of longitude every hour, and if the exact times were known for two locations (the local time, and the time at some geographically known location, such as the Royal Observatory at Greenwich), the time difference would represent the longitudinal separation. For this method, an accurate knowledge of time was essential, and spawned the race to develop a reliable marine chronometer that could maintain accurate time during long and rough voyages. Competing with the Chronometer Method were the mathematicians who promoted the Lunar Distance Method, whereby longitude could be calculated using certain astronomical measurements combined with specific numerical corrections that were made available in yearly Nautical Almanacs. The government-appointed Board of Longitude administered the program, scrutinized submissions, awarded prize money, and oversaw publishing of Nautical Almanacs. Objectives and rules were outlined in some two dozen Parliamentary Acts issued between 1714 and 1828. The Longitude at Sea program was successful in multiple ways, and facilitated important advances in mathematics, astronomy, horology, navigation, and Arctic exploration. Over the life of the program, a total of GBP 53,000 in prize money was awarded to more than sixty participants. The most prominent and successful competitor was John Harrison (1693-1776), who received disbursements of GBP 22,000 over a period of 35 years for his brilliant discoveries and invention of the marine chronometer. The Longitude Act (1762) reiterated specific goals of the program, and approved an additional GBP 2,000 for continued research work and experimentation.

Soft cover. Condición: Very Good. 1st Edition. Folio (11.25 inches). 14 George III, Chapter 66. Title leaf + pages 1487-1496. Engraved Royal coat of arms, headpiece, and decorative initial. Text in Black Letter. Neatly extracted from a bound volume and expertly mended. Paper is a bit toned. One of the greatest dangers facing early mariners was the inability to determine accurate position at sea. Over the centuries, many lives had been lost at sea, but it was the loss of nearly 2,000 lives in 1707 (when four British navy ships ran aground as a result of miscalculated longitude) that prompted a Parliamentary investigation. The resultant Longitude Act (1714) offered prize money of up to GBP 20,000 for a reliable and accurate method of determining Longitude at Sea. The contest was expanded in 1745 and 1765 to include the search for a North West Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, also with reward money of up to GBP 20,000. The program was further broadened in 1818 to include navigation to the high Arctic and the North Pole (with prize money of up to GBP 5,000) and relaxed certain regulations to entice northern whale hunters to participate in the contest. Research and related experimentation were also encouraged, and award money was made available for lesser discoveries and specific improvements. The competitions attracted the skill and imagination of the greatest scientific minds and mariners of the time. It was known that the Earth rotated through fifteen degrees of longitude every hour, and if the exact times were known for two locations (the local time, and the time at some geographically known location, such as the Royal Observatory at Greenwich), the time difference would represent the longitudinal separation. For this method, an accurate knowledge of time was essential, and spawned the race to develop a reliable marine chronometer that could maintain accurate time during long and rough voyages. Competing with the Chronometer Method were the mathematicians who promoted the Lunar Distance Method, whereby longitude could be calculated using certain astronomical measurements combined with specific numerical corrections that were made available in yearly Nautical Almanacs. The government-appointed Board of Longitude administered the program, scrutinized submissions, awarded prize money, and oversaw publishing of Nautical Almanacs. Objectives and rules were outlined in some two dozen Parliamentary Acts issued between 1714 and 1828. The Longitude at Sea program was successful in multiple ways, and facilitated important advances in mathematics, astronomy, horology, navigation, and Arctic exploration. Over the life of the program, a total of GBP 53,000 in prize money was awarded to more than sixty participants. The most prominent and successful competitor was John Harrison (1693-1776), who received disbursements of GBP 22,000 over a period of 35 years for his brilliant discoveries and invention of the marine chronometer. By the Longitude Act (1774), all former Acts relating to longitude were repealed, and the awards offered for the discovery of Longitude at Sea were reduced to one-half of what they once were: GBP 10,000 for the determination of longitude to within thirty nautical miles, GBP 7,500 for longitude to within forty nautical miles, and GBP 5,000 for longitude to within sixty nautical miles. A fund of GBP 5,000 was also available for improvements to lunar tables. The 1774 Act outlined in great detail the trials required to verify the performance of timekeepers competing for the prizes, and the precision of the lunar tables that were expected to produce a high degree of exactness in calculating longitude. As before, up to GBP 5,000 was available for related experiments, and smaller sums of money were available for lesser discoveries of noted importance.

Soft cover. Condición: Very Good. 1st Edition. Folio (11.75 inches). 13 George III, Chapter 77. Title leaf + pages 1455-1474. Engraved Royal coat of arms and decorative initial. Text in Black Letter. Neatly extracted from a bound volume. One of the greatest dangers facing early mariners was the inability to determine accurate position at sea. Over the centuries, many lives had been lost at sea, but it was the loss of nearly 2,000 lives in 1707 that prompted a Parliamentary investigation. The resultant Longitude Act (1714) offered prize money of up to GBP 20,000 for a reliable and accurate method of determining Longitude at Sea. The contest was expanded in 1745 and 1765 to include the search for a North West Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, also with reward money of up to GBP 20,000. The program was further broadened in 1818 to include navigation to the high Arctic and the North Pole (with prize money of up to GBP 5,000) and relaxed certain regulations to entice northern whale hunters to participate in the contest. The competitions attracted the skill and imagination of the greatest scientific minds and mariners of the time. It was known that the Earth rotated through fifteen degrees of longitude every hour, and if the exact times were known for two locations (the local time, and the time at some geographically known location, such as the Royal Observatory at Greenwich), the time difference would represent the longitudinal separation. For this method, an accurate knowledge of time was essential, and spawned the race to develop a reliable marine chronometer that could maintain accurate time during long and rough voyages. Competing with the Chronometer Method were the mathematicians who promoted the Lunar Distance Method, whereby longitude could be calculated using certain astronomical measurements combined with specific numerical corrections that were made available in yearly Nautical Almanacs. The government-appointed Board of Longitude administered the program, scrutinized submissions, awarded prize money, and oversaw publishing of Nautical Almanacs. Objectives and rules were outlined in some two dozen Parliamentary Acts issued between 1714 and 1828. The Longitude at Sea program was successful in multiple ways, and facilitated important advances in mathematics, astronomy, horology, navigation, and Arctic exploration. Over the life of the program, a total of GBP 53,000 in prize money was awarded to more than sixty participants. The most prominent and successful competitor was John Harrison (1693-1776). The Longitude Act (1773) provided for a payment of GBP 8750 owed to Harrison. The final clause of the Act reads: And whereas John Harrison applied himself, with unremitting Industry for the Space of Forty-Eight Years, to the making an Instrument for ascertaining the Longitude at Sea; and having constructed a Time-keeper for that Purpose, and discovered the principles of constructing the same, by which other Time-keepers have already been made, and found to answer with great exactness; from which Discovery, it is apprehended that great Benefit will arise to the Trade and Navigation of these Kingdoms, is highly deserving of public Encouragement and Reward; be it therefore enacted that the Treasury of His Majestys Navy is to pay the said John Harrison, a Sum not exceeding Eight thousand seven hundred and fifty pound, as a further Reward and Encouragement, for his said Invention of a Time-keeper, and his Discovery of the Principles upon which the same was constructed. By this Act, the British Parliament and the Board of Longitude admitted that Harrison had successfully constructed a marine timekeeper that met the requirements for determining longitude at sea. The carefully worded statement, however, stopped short of declaring Harrison the winner of the competition. In total, Harrison received disbursements of GBP 22,000 over a period of 35 years for his brilliant discoveries and invention of the marine chronometer.

Soft cover. Condición: Very Good. 1st Edition. Folio (11.75 inches). 5 George III, Chapter 20. Title leaf + pages 367-374. Woodcut Royal coat of arms and decorative initial. Text in Black Letter. Neatly extracted from a bound volume and expertly mended. One of the greatest dangers facing early mariners was the inability to determine accurate position at sea. Over the centuries, many lives had been lost at sea, but it was the loss of nearly 2,000 lives in 1707 (when four British navy ships ran aground as a result of miscalculated longitude) that prompted a Parliamentary investigation. The resultant Longitude Act (1714) offered prize money of up to GBP 20,000 for a reliable and accurate method of determining Longitude at Sea. The contest was expanded in 1745 and 1765 to include the search for a North West Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, also with reward money of up to GBP 20,000. The program was further broadened in 1818 to include navigation to the high Arctic and the North Pole (with prize money of up to GBP 5,000) and relaxed certain regulations to entice northern whale hunters to participate in the contest. Research and related experimentation were also encouraged, and award money was made available for lesser discoveries and specific improvements. The competitions attracted the skill and imagination of the greatest scientific minds and mariners of the time. It was known that the Earth rotated through fifteen degrees of longitude every hour, and if the exact times were known for two locations (the local time, and the time at some geographically known location, such as the Royal Observatory at Greenwich), the time difference would represent the longitudinal separation. For this method, an accurate knowledge of time was essential, and spawned the race to develop a reliable marine chronometer that could maintain accurate time during long and rough voyages. Competing with the Chronometer Method were the mathematicians who promoted the Lunar Distance Method, whereby longitude could be calculated using certain astronomical measurements combined with specific numerical corrections that were made available in yearly Nautical Almanacs. The government-appointed Board of Longitude administered the program, scrutinized submissions, awarded prize money, and oversaw publishing of Nautical Almanacs. Objectives and rules were outlined in some two dozen Parliamentary Acts issued between 1714 and 1828. The Longitude at Sea program was successful in multiple ways, and facilitated important advances in mathematics, astronomy, horology, navigation, and Arctic exploration. Over the life of the program, a total of GBP 53,000 in prize money was awarded to more than sixty participants. The most prominent and successful competitor was John Harrison (1693-1776), who received disbursements of GBP 22,000 over a period of 35 years for his brilliant discoveries and invention of the marine chronometer. The Longitude Act (1765) confirmed that John Harrisons marine chronometer H4 had been successfully tested during voyages to Jamaica and Barbados, and technically qualified for the GBP 20,000 reward as set out in the Longitude Act (1714). But the Commissioners still doubted that the timepiece would be a practical and reliable means for determining Longitude at Sea, and whether it had met the intent of the competition. By the Act, Harrison was to be paid an initial GBP 10,000 in recognition of his discovery of the Principles of his Time-Keepers upon submission of his timepieces and detailed construction specifications to the satisfaction of the Board of Longitude. An additional GBP 10,000 would be paid upon the successful manufacture and testing of replica timepieces made after Harrisons design. At the same time, professors Leonhard Euler and Tobias Mayer were praised for their progress in calculating lunar tables for celestial navigation, and were rewarded for their work: Euler was paid GBP 300 and Mayers widow received GBP 3,000.

Soft cover. Condición: Very Good. 1st Edition. Folio (11.75 inches). 3 George III, Chapter 14. Title leaf + pages 359-363. Woodcut Royal coat of arms and decorative initial. Text in Black Letter. Neatly extracted from a bound volume and expertly mended. One of the greatest dangers facing early mariners was the inability to determine accurate position at sea. Over the centuries, many lives had been lost at sea, but it was the loss of nearly 2,000 lives in 1707 (when four British navy ships ran aground as a result of miscalculated longitude) that prompted a Parliamentary investigation. The resultant Longitude Act (1714) offered prize money of up to GBP 20,000 for a reliable and accurate method of determining Longitude at Sea. The contest was expanded in 1745 and 1765 to include the search for a North West Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, also with reward money of up to GBP 20,000. The program was further broadened in 1818 to include navigation to the high Arctic and the North Pole (with prize money of up to GBP 5,000) and relaxed certain regulations to entice northern whale hunters to participate in the contest. Research and related experimentation were also encouraged, and award money was made available for lesser discoveries and specific improvements. The competitions attracted the skill and imagination of the greatest scientific minds and mariners of the time. It was known that the Earth rotated through fifteen degrees of longitude every hour, and if the exact times were known for two locations (the local time, and the time at some geographically known location, such as the Royal Observatory at Greenwich), the time difference would represent the longitudinal separation. For this method, an accurate knowledge of time was essential, and spawned the race to develop a reliable marine chronometer that could maintain accurate time during long and rough voyages. Competing with the Chronometer Method were the mathematicians who promoted the Lunar Distance Method, whereby longitude could be calculated using certain astronomical measurements combined with specific numerical corrections that were made available in yearly Nautical Almanacs. The government-appointed Board of Longitude administered the program, scrutinized submissions, awarded prize money, and oversaw publishing of Nautical Almanacs. Objectives and rules were outlined in some two dozen Parliamentary Acts issued between 1714 and 1828. The Longitude at Sea program was successful in multiple ways, and facilitated important advances in mathematics, astronomy, horology, navigation, and Arctic exploration. Over the life of the program, a total of GBP 53,000 in prize money was awarded to more than sixty participants. The most prominent and successful competitor was John Harrison (1693-1776), who received disbursements of GBP 22,000 over a period of 35 years for his brilliant discoveries and invention of the marine chronometer. In March of 1763, John Harrison petitioned Parliament in light of the recent successful performance of his marine chronometer H4 on a voyage to Jamaica, and believed that he had met the criteria of the Longitude Act (1714) and was entitled to the GBP 20,000 main prize. Parliament responded with the John Harrison Act (1763), which provided that Harrison could receive GBP 5,000 if he would disclose the full details and working principles of his timepiece: he was instructed to supply detailed drawings and descriptions of his timepiece, dismantle H4 to its component pieces, and supervise workmen in making two or more copies of it, each of which would be tested. Provisions in the Act protected Harrison against competitors that might want to submit a timepiece within the next four-year period. Fearful of more delays and complications, Harrison refused to disclose details of H4 and received no money by virtue of the 1763 Act. Instead, he turned his attention to preparations for the second sea trial of H4 to Barbados.