A new discovery for finding the longitude

Hobbs

• Publisher: Science & Technology Publishing
• Year: 2025
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9782528123386
• Subtopic: 19th Century History
• Index: History

A New Discovery for Finding the Longitude is a fascinating historical treatise published in 1721 by William Whiston, a renowned English mathematician, theologian, and successor to Isaac Newton as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge. This book addresses one of the most pressing scientific challenges of the 17th and 18th centuries: the accurate determination of longitude at sea, a problem that had confounded navigators and led to countless maritime disasters. In this work, Whiston presents his innovative method for finding longitude, which he developed in collaboration with Humphrey Ditton. The book outlines the theoretical foundations of their approach, which involves the use of time signals—specifically, the firing of mortars or the detonation of gunpowder at predetermined intervals along the coast. By observing the time at which the sound or flash of these signals reached ships at sea, navigators could calculate their longitudinal position with unprecedented accuracy. Whiston meticulously details the scientific principles underlying his proposal, including the speed of sound, the challenges of accurate timekeeping, and the practicalities of implementing such a system on a large scale. He also addresses potential objections and offers solutions to anticipated difficulties, demonstrating both his deep understanding of the subject and his commitment to practical application. The book is not only a technical manual but also a passionate plea to the British government and the scientific community to adopt and support his method. Whiston emphasizes the immense benefits that accurate longitude determination would bring to navigation, commerce, and national security, and he situates his work within the broader context of contemporary efforts to solve the longitude problem, including the famous Longitude Act of 1714. A New Discovery for Finding the Longitude is a remarkable document of scientific ingenuity and ambition. It offers modern readers a window into the intellectual climate of the early Enlightenment, the challenges of maritime navigation, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge that characterized the era. For historians of science, maritime enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the history of navigation, Whiston's book remains a compelling and insightful read.

Table of contents

• A New Discovery for Finding the Longitude.
• MEMORANDUM.
• The Form of the Book to be kept for each Movement, wherein must be entred the Numbers, &c. (which are to be found at the Returning of the Ship) for finding the Hour and Minute at London.