04 Apr 2011
You might not have noticed the subtle appearance of the 'Resources' tab on the top bar, but it is worth a click. Thanks to Nicky we now have an excellent 'Short annotated bibliography on longitude and the Board of Longitude'. Several of the articles can be accessed online including, for the first time, Derek Howse's article on the Board's finances (reproduced with the kind permission of the Hon. Editor of The Mariner's Mirror). While this might not sound like a thrilling read (and it isn't exactly that) it is an incredibly useful source that does a wonderful job at showing just how much more there is to say about the Board than the well-known story of Harrison. For a start, many of the items listed in the Board's accounts date to the period after Harrison's death, including grants, rewards and expenses given to a much wider range of individuals and projects than most readers will suspect. The list is a veritable Who's Who of European astronomers, mathematicians, instrument makers and explorers.
The online Resources will be developed as the project goes on, leaving, we hope, a useful a legacy that will include, ultimately, a much more complete bibliography. This initial list is, however, an important group of must-reads for anyone interested in knowing more about the Board and its role.