The Longitude Act offered a significant reward for a solution from "summary" of Longitude by Dava Sobel
In the early 18th century, determining longitude at sea posed a significant challenge for sailors and navigators. The inability to accurately pinpoint their location led to countless shipwrecks and lost lives. Recognizing the urgency of finding a solution, the British Parliament passed the Longitude Act in 1714. This landmark legislation promised a substantial reward to anyone who could devise a method for determining longitude with precision. The bounty offered by the Longitude Act was no ordinary sum. It was a princely reward of £20,000, equivalent to millions of pounds in today's currency. This sizable incentive was intended to attract the brightest minds and most innovative thinkers of the time. The hope was that by dangling such a tantalizing prize, the elusive problem of longitude could finally be solved. ...
Similar Posts
The longitude problem was a mystery that captivated the world
The longitude problem was an enigma that mesmerized the globe. It was a puzzle that confounded the greatest minds of the time. ...
The longitude problem was a mystery that captivated the world
The longitude problem was an enigma that mesmerized the globe. It was a puzzle that confounded the greatest minds of the time. ...
The search for a solution spanned centuries
The quest to determine longitude at sea consumed the energies of scientists, astronomers, and navigators for centuries. The pro...
One challenge was the lack of accurate instruments
The lack of accurate instruments posed a significant challenge for the scientists tasked with measuring the world. In the early...
Some saw the metric system as an intrusion on national sovereignty
To many, the metric system represented a radical departure from tradition, a break with the past that threatened the very essen...
Political and personal obstacles threatened Harrison's progress
Harrison faced numerous challenges that hindered his advancements in the creation of a reliable marine timekeeper. One signific...