John Harrison

Harrison's First Chronometer

In the age of the sail, the maps of the world were completely off balance and inaccurate. This was because ships, their sailors, and cartographers did not have a way of accurately determining longitude, or the horizontal distance from the prime meridian. Because of this, many ships also wrecked and crashed because they really had no way to pinpoint their location. This was the age John Harrison grew up in. When the prize for ₤20,000 for a way to accurately determine longitude was announced, the self-educated John was already a skilled clockmaker. When he created the marine chronometer, John Harrison proved that anyone can do anything if they truly want. This is why John Harrison, my great-great-great-great-great grandfather, is my hero.

Harrison's Second Chronometer

To begin with, John Harrison educated himself. The son of a poor Yorkshire carpenter, he received little to no paid tuition. However, by the time he was twenty, he knew geometry well and became a very good clockmaker. In the early 1700's, even before the U.S. was founded, England had a poor-rich economic structure. In said times, it is a miracle he even began to do what he did. Later, in fact, this would become an obstacle in his path as he attempted to solve the ubiquitous longitude problem.

Harrison's Third Chronometer

Furthermore, John Harrison began to face troubles in his attempts to publish the invention of the chronometer H1, the first device that could accurately tell time, and thus longitude, from any point in the world. Because of his impoverished upbringing, though, the Board of Longitude disregarded his idea, because so many other learned men had failed. However, Harrison was persistent and went straight to the King. The King granted him one test of his chronometer. John sent the chronometer on a ship to the new world with his son William and back, and it proved to have an accuracy of half a degree, worthy of the prize. However, the nobles and the board still, out of sheer obstinacy, refrained from giving him the prize. Harrison was not at all fazed and went on to create H2, H3 and H4, the latter of which was like a large pocketwatch. Harrison later contacted the King, who gave him another voyage for H4. H4 went to the new world and back with a time difference of only twenty-nine seconds. The board finally gave him the prize, and the age of Longitude had begun.

Harrison's Fourth Chronometer

My great-great-great-great-great grandfather, John Harrison, is my hero. On his 83rd birthday, his life came to an end in his Lincolnshire house. Behind him he left a will that lasted up to half a century ago. The H1, H2, H3 and H5 are still running to this day as well. John Harrison left behind a legacy not to be forgotten and I am glad to be a part of it.

Harrison's Final Chronometer