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Editor’s Column and the US Naval Observatory have day-to-day ? nancial transactions of day-to-day ? nancial transactions of jointly published a uni? ed Nautical supplies and equipment for ships. supplies and equipment for ships.

Almanac. In the evenings, he studied in the Training in advanced navigation library of Jonathan Hodges, and was library of Jonathan Hodges, and was is relegated to nautical study encouraged by three local, Harvard-encouraged by three local, Harvard- programs for merchant shipping trained scholars. Over the course and defensive navies, such as of his nine-year indenture, he read of his nine-year indenture, he read

Britain’s Royal Naval College. math, science, astronomy, and

Napoleon Bonaparte founded a languages, learning algebra at 14, maritime academy in Antwerp calculus at 16, Latin at 17, French in 1814, which was ‘re-founded’ at 19. under the Belgian regime in 1834. Bowditch built his own

The National Maritime College of astronomical and surveying

Ireland (NMCI) is among the most instruments and participated in a recent; it opened to students in land survey of Salem in 1794. His 2004 and offers Marine Engineering accuracy and thoroughness resulted explained the principles of and Nautical Science degree in an invitation from shipmaster navigation, surveying directions, courses. John Gibaut to clerk on his ? rst winds, currents, directions on how SUNY Maritime College, Fort sea voyage in 1795. Bowditch to calculate high tides, a dictionary

Schuyler, Bronx, New York was studied sea journals and navigation of sea terms, an explanation of the ? rst US college of its kind techniques, and made ? ve trips to rigging, keeping a ship’s journal (federally approved, offering the East Indies, from 1795 to 1803. or log, and business topics such as commercial nautical instruction), While at sea he studied charts, took contracts, insurance, and bills of founded in 1874. There are only lunar measurements, and recorded exchange. It became known as ‘the a handful of accredited maritime his observations. Bowditch was seaman’s bible’ and went through colleges in the country, including also interested in the mathematics 10 editions before Bowditch died in the US Naval Academy (Annapolis, behind celestial navigation 1838. His son, J Ingersoll Bowditch,

MD), US Coast Guard Academy and his mastery of French later took over editorial responsibility (New London, CT), US Merchant enabled him (beginning in 1812) for editions published over the

Marine Academy (Kings Point, NY), to translate the ? ve volumes following 30 years.

California Maritime Academy (part of French mathematician and In June 1866, the United of the California State University astronomer Pierre Laplace’s Traité States Hydrographic Of? ce was system, Vallejo), Great Lakes de Méchanique Celeste into English: established as part of the Bureau of

Maritime Academy (a division of Treatise on Celestial Mechanics. Navigation, Department of the

Northwestern Michigan College), His practical sailing experience Navy, and it purchased the

Maine Maritime Academy (Castine), and astronomy scholarship made copyright and plates for $25,000

Massachusetts Maritime Academy him one of the best navigators in from George Blunt (son of publisher (Buzzards Bay), Texas Maritime America and secured his place in Edmund M. Blunt).

Academy (part of the Texas A&M history. In the late 18th century, The US government has published

University System, Galveston), and mariners relied on navigation 52 editions since acquiring the the private Maritime Institute Inc. tables prepared by John Hamilton copyright, the most recent being (San Diego, CA). Moore of the British Royal Navy, the 2002 bicentennial edition. The and others. Edmund March Blunt US National Geospatial-Intelligence

Bowditch commissioned Bowditch to update Agency offers free digital ? les of

It’s dif? cult to consider the life and revise The American Coast The American Practical Navigator. and accomplishments of Nathaniel Pilot, published in 1796, and The entire document or separate

Bowditch without a certain degree Bowditch checked the data and chapters and tables can be of awe. Born on 26 March 1773 – recalculated the tables 1797-98. downloaded. Although online 240 years ago this month – he was Bowditch was elected to editions of Bowditch are constantly inquisitive, gifted, and motivated membership in the American updated, a hardcover edition never to learn. He left school at age 10 Academy of Arts & Sciences in crashes or has to be rebooted, and to work in his family’s cooperage 1799, and was awarded an honorary is never subject to the vagaries of business in the port town of LLD from Harvard College in 1802. battery failure.

Salem, Massachusetts. He was In the same year, Bowditch Such is the appreciation of this employed at 12 as a bookkeeping published The New American time-tested volume that it has its apprentice to Ropes & Hodges, Practical Navigator, a completely own Facebook page: Bowditch’s ship chandlers, working on the new, comprehensive work that American Practical Navigator.

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