Personal papers belonging to a member of the 18th century Board of Longitude, which sat in judgement on the work of John Harrison, have been bought at auction by the National Maritime Museum. The papers, which belonged to the 2nd Viscount Barrington, offer new insights into the 'unofficial' views and deliberations held by Board members who were entrusted with examining the evidence of those who claimed to have 'found the longitude'.

The papers are extremely rare personal notes made by Barrington at the Board of Longitude meetings. They reveal, among other things, that in the mid-1760s the Board was considering disbanding. The Museum also acquired a rare unbound book published in 1765, which makes John Harrison's case for the longitude reward, following the trials of his fourth timekeeper, H4. The papers and the book, Narrative of the Proceedings, were bought with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Friends of the National Maritime Museum at the Dominic Winter auction at Swindon on 25 June.

From 18 August visitors to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, will be able to see a selection of the Barrington papers. They will be displayed alongside the four famous timekeepers made by John Harrison between 1730 and 1759 in his quest to solve the 'longitude problem' and to win the £20,000 prize originally offered by Act of Parliament in 1714. These are on permanent display at the Observatory, part of the National Maritime Museum.

Roy Clare, Director of the National Maritime Museum said:

These fascinating papers will enable the Museum's experts to reassess the discussions of the Board of Longitude and to shed new light on the events that led to Harrison eventually bypassing the Board, and making a personal appeal to King George III for the longitude prize to be awarded to him. We are extremely grateful to the HLF and also to the Friends of the National Maritime Museum for making possible this important acquisition.

Sue Bowers, London Regional Manager at the Heritage Lottery Fund said:

We are thrilled to be able to help the Museum ensure that these significant historic documents remain in the UK for greater public benefit. The manuscript gives a rare insight into the life and work of John Harrison and is all the more interesting for people alongside examples of his world famous clocks and amid the Museum's wider collection.

King Charles II founded the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, in 1675, assured that 'the longitude problem’ could be resolved by astronomical means. In 1714 Queen Anne established the Board of Longitude by Act of Parliament, an Act that was still in operation under the reign of George III. Sailors were able to measure latitude but, by the end of the 17th century, a solution to the 'longitude problem' had still not been found and accurate navigation remained impossible. Heavy reliance on sea trade meant that finding longitude became an international priority in the quest for wealth and empire.

William Wildman Barrington (1717–93), the second Viscount Barrington, was a politician and statesman. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer and then, from 1762 to 1765, Treasurer to the Navy.

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Notes to editors

1. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation's heritage for everyone to enjoy. HLF has supported more than 12,000 projects, allocating over £2 billion across the UK.

2. John Harrison (1693–1776), the clockmaker who invented the most famous watch ever made, is celebrated at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, with a permanent gallery devoted to his work.

3. The Board of Longitude (1714–1828) was founded in response to increasing pressure on the British Government to encourage the finding of more reliable means of navigation. In 1714, Parliament established a panel of experts, the Board of Longitude, which include the First Lord of the Admiralty with the Treasurer to the Navy and several high ranking navy officers, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the President of the Royal Society, the Astronomer Royal and a number of Oxbridge professors. The Act offered a massive £20,000 (today's equivalent of about £2 million) reward to anyone who could solve the problem of finding longitude at sea. It took nearly sixty years for the prize to be claimed. In the end it went not to a famous astronomer, scientist or mathematician, but to a self-educated Yorkshire carpenter turned clockmaker, John Harrison.

Issued 10 July 2003 by the National Maritime Museum Press Office

For further media information and images please contact Jeanette Ward:
Tel: 020 8312 6732 / 6545 / 6790
Fax: 020 8312 6521
E-mail: jward@rmg.co.uk