On April 3, 1693, self-educated English carpenter and clockmaker John Harrison was born. Harrison invented the marine chronometer, a long-sought-after device for solving the problem of calculating longitude while at sea. However, it was not until toward the end of his life that he finally received recognition and a reward from the British Parliament. “He wrested the world’s whereabouts from the stars, and locked the secret in a pocket watch.” ― Dava Sobel, Longitude, [7] Early Life Little is known about John Harrison’s early years. He was the oldest of five children, born in Foulby in the West Riding of … Continue reading The Chronometers of John Harrison and the Problem of Longitude