Longitude
The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
by:
Dava Sobel
Summary:
The book chronicles the life of John Harrison, an 18th-century clockmaker, who invented the marine chronometer, a device crucial for precise navigation at sea. It details his struggle to perfect his invention and gain recognition from the British government, which had offered a substantial prize for a solution to accurately determining longitude.
Key points:
1. The Longitude Problem: The book discusses the historical difficulty of determining longitude at sea, a problem that often led to maritime disasters. The British government offered a reward for a solution through the Longitude Act in 1714.
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