"The Royal Mathematical School of Christ's Hospital was set up in 1673 to teach the principles of navigation to selected boys in preparation for a career at sea. Using mainly the original records dating back 400 years, this is a major groundbreaking history, nearly 350 packed pages of never before published accounts of the Foundation of the Mathematical School, of the teachers and the pupils from the beginning right through to the present day. Fully illustrated in colour throughout, it dispels the myth that Samuel Pepys started the school and provides new insights into his role during the first thirty years. Full details are provided of the extensive contributions made by Robert Hooke, John Flamsteed, Sir Christopher Wren and Sir Isaac Newton, among many others. Some 2000 boys left Christ's Hospital to travel the world, including Europe, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, India, China, the West Indies and North America, on voyages of commerce and exploration, leaving many amazing stories to tell."--Provided by publisher.