Who was John Harrison?

John Harrison was an English joiner and clockmaker who lived from 1693 to 1776. He invented the marine chronometer, solving the critical navigational problem of calculating longitude at sea and revolutionizing long-distance maritime safety. Despite his groundbreaking achievements and support from the Longitude Board, political rivalries prevented him from receiving the full parliamentary reward until late in his life.

What we know

• John Harrison was an English joiner and clockmaker born on April 3, 1693. [2]
• He invented the marine chronometer to solve the problem of calculating longitude while at sea. [2, 5]
• His invention revolutionized navigation and increased the safety of long-distance sea travel, prompted by the longitude problem highlighted after the 1707 Scilly naval disaster. [2]
• Harrison presented his first design in 1730 and later turned his focus to sea watches. [2]

Still open

• Sources note that Harrison never received the full financial reward offered under the 1714 Longitude Act due to political rivalries, though he did receive recognition and a reward from Parliament towards the end of his life.

Where to go next

• how it workedHow did the marine chronometer solve the longitude problem?
• what caused itWhat was the Scilly naval disaster of 1707?
• whoWhat did Larcum Kendall do?
• the bigger pictureHow does traditional clockmaking work?
• how we knowWhat was the 1714 Longitude Act?
• an unexpected connectionHow did a pocketwatch maker contribute to Harrison's chronometers?Clockmaker John Jefferys, who built a pocketwatch for John Harrison around 1753, had an apprentice named Larcum Kendall who eventually took over his workshop.

Sources

• [1]John Harrison (Wikidata Q314335) · CC0 1.0
• [2]John Harrison · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Clockmaker · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]John Jefferys (clockmaker) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]John Harrison (disambiguation) · CC BY-SA 4.0