Of Time and Place. Essays in Honour of O.H.K. Spate.

Abstract

Cover photograph The front cover picture is of John Harrison's fourth timekeeper completed in 1759. This kept sufficiently accurate time on board ship to solve the problem of determining longitude at sea. A replica was made for use aboard Resolution during Captain Cook's second voyage (1772-5). On 19 July 1775 it was noted in the log: We made land about Plymouth, Maker Church, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Bore North 100° West distant 4 leagues. This bearing and distance show that the error of the watch in longitude was only 7 minutes 45 seconds, that is, less than 6 miles too far to the West.