The scientific community was skeptical of Harrison's work from "summary" of Longitude by Dava Sobel
Harrison's claim that he could build a clock that would keep time at sea encountered immediate resistance from the scientific establishment. The idea that a humble clockmaker could solve the age-old problem of determining longitude seemed preposterous to many learned men. The scientific community was deeply skeptical of Harrison's work, dismissing it as the fanciful dream of an amateur. The prevailing wisdom at the time held that the solution to the longitude problem lay in the heavens, not in the workshop of a clockmaker. Astronomers and mathematicians had long believed that the key to determining longitude lay in observing the positions of the stars and planets. They thought that by carefully measuring the angles between celestial bodies, sailors could calculate their exact position on the globe. Harrison's assertion that a mechanical timepiece could achieve the same result flew in the face of centuries of received wisdom. The scientific community was reluctant to abandon the tried and tested methods of celestial navigation in favor of an unproven invention. They were wary of Harrison's claims, viewing his work with suspicion and derision. Harrison's lack of formal education and scientific credentials only added to the skepticism surrounding his work. The scientific elite were accustomed to dealing with astronomers and mathematicians, not self-taught clockmakers. They found it difficult to take Harrison seriously, dismissing him as an upstart and a charlatan. Despite the doubts and criticism he faced, Harrison pressed on with his work, determined to prove the scientific community wrong. He poured all of his skill and ingenuity into the creation of his timepieces, confident that they would revolutionize navigation at sea. Harrison's unwavering faith in his invention would eventually win over even his harshest critics, as his clocks proved their accuracy and reliability in a series of rigorous tests.
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