Longitude prize awarded from "summary" of Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel
The Longitude prize was a reward offered by the British government in 1714 to anyone who could solve the problem of determining a ship's longitude at sea. The prize was set at £20,000, a substantial sum of money at the time, equivalent to millions of pounds today. The problem of determining longitude was a pressing one for sailors, as the inability to accurately calculate their position at sea led to countless shipwrecks and loss of life. The Longitude prize was the brainchild of the British Parliament, which recognized the importance of finding a solution to this problem for the safety of its merchant and naval fleets. The prize was open to anyone, not just scientists or academics, and sparked a flurry of interest and activity among inventors, clockmakers, astronomers, and other individuals who believed they had a solution to the problem. One of the most famous contenders for the Longitude prize was John Harrison, a self-taught clockmaker who devoted his life to solving the problem of determining longitude at sea. Harrison's solution involved the i...Similar Posts
Einstein was a dedicated letter writer and thinker
Einstein’s correspondence was not just a casual exchange of pleasantries, but a profound exploration of ideas and principles. H...
Transparency and accountability are essential for building trust in agricultural technologies
Transparency and accountability in the agricultural sector are crucial for fostering trust in the technologies being developed ...
Scientific community skepticism
The scientific community, renowned for its skepticism, did not easily accept new ideas or inventions. Galileo's telescope, for ...
Harrison's struggle for recognition
Harrison's struggle for recognition was a long and arduous journey marked by setbacks and disappointments. Despite creating a r...
Resistance to change came from various quarters
In the tumultuous days following the French Revolution, the idea of change hung heavy in the Parisian air. The revolutionary fe...
Public acknowledgment
Public acknowledgment is a fundamental human need, a form of validation and recognition that can propel individuals to achieve ...