Longitude Act of 1714 from "summary" of Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel
In 1714, the British Parliament passed an act that offered a substantial reward for anyone who could solve the problem of determining longitude at sea. This act was a response to the numerous maritime disasters that were occurring due to the inability of sailors to accurately pinpoint their location on the open ocean. The Longitude Act of 1714 established a Board of Longitude, which was responsible for evaluating proposals and awarding the prize money to the individual or group that could provide a workable solution. The board was comprised of some of the most eminent scientists and navigators of the time, including Sir Isaac Newton and Edmond Halley. The act stipulated that the solution had to be accurate to within half a degree of longitude, or ...
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