Article ID: CBB000931909

Magnetism and Chronometers: The Research of the Reverend George Fisher (2009)

unapi

Roberts, G. W. (Author)


British Journal for the History of Science
Volume: 42
Pages: 57--72


Publication Date: 2009
Edition Details: Part of a special section
Language: English

Although largely remembered as an astronomer, the Reverend George Fisher (1794--1873) played a significant part in studying the performance and possible improvement of marine chronometers in the mid-nineteenth century. Appointed astronomer to the Royal Navy's Arctic expedition of 1818, while on the voyage Fisher carried out research into the effects of magnetism on the accurate running of chronometers on board ship. By this time, chronometers were standard equipment on many ships and their reliability was a matter of importance to all mariners. Fisher's published findings from this research led to considerable contemporary debate, and also influenced the work of others in the field. Moreover, as papers held at the National Maritime Museum show, he carried on his chronometer research in later life, making further contributions to the subject that have remained somewhat neglected.

...More
Included in

Article Dunn, Richard (2009) Material Culture in the History of Science: Case Studies from the National Maritime Museum. British Journal for the History of Science (p. 31). unapi

Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB000931909/

Similar Citations

Article Larson, Edward J.; (2011)
Public Science for a Global Empire: The British Quest for the South Magnetic Pole (/isis/citation/CBB001022860/)

Book John McAleer; Nigel Rigby; (2017)
Captain Cook and the Pacific: Art, Exploration and Empire (/isis/citation/CBB128420938/)

Article Warrior, Claire; (2013)
“On Thin Ice”: The Polar Displays at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (/isis/citation/CBB001421586/)

Article Kinns, Roger; (2014)
Did the Edinburgh Time Ball Really Weigh 15 cwt? (/isis/citation/CBB001421776/)

Article Mörzer Bruyns, Willem F. J.; (2007)
The Navigating Instruments of the National Maritime Museum Greenwich: Research in Progress (/isis/citation/CBB000831651/)

Book Joyce, E. B.; McCann, D. A.; (2011)
Burke and Wills: The Scientific Legacy of the Victorian Exploring Expedition (/isis/citation/CBB001251077/)

Book Day, David; (2013)
Antarctica: A Biography (/isis/citation/CBB001421625/)

Book Lambert, Andrew D.; (2009)
The Gates of Hell: Sir John Franklin's Tragic Quest for the North West Passage (/isis/citation/CBB001033453/)

Article Noyce, Diana; (2012)
Charles Darwin, the Gourmet Traveler (/isis/citation/CBB001320002/)

Book Fornasiero, F. J.; Monteath, Peter; West-Sooby, John; (2004)
Encountering Terra Australis: The Australian Voyages of Nicolas Baudin and Matthew Flinders (/isis/citation/CBB001033762/)

Chapter Dritsas, Lawrence; (2011)
Expeditionary Science: Conflicts of Method in Mid-Nineteenth-Century Geographical Discovery (/isis/citation/CBB001231563/)

Book Steel, Emily; (2011)
He Is No Loss: Robert McCormick and the Voyage of the HMS Beagle (/isis/citation/CBB001221418/)

Article Croucher, John S.; Croucher, Rosalind F.; (2011)
Mrs Janet Taylor's “Mariner's Calculator”: Assessment and Reassessment (/isis/citation/CBB001024727/)

Authors & Contributors
Gillin, Edward J.
Warrior, Claire
Withers, Charles W. J.
Wisnicki, Adrian S
West-Sooby, John
Steel, Emily
Concepts
Scientific expeditions
Travel; exploration
Instruments, navigational
Geography
Scientific apparatus and instruments
Chronometers, marine
Time Periods
19th century
18th century
20th century, early
20th century
Places
Great Britain
Polar regions
Antarctica
Northwest Passage
Greenwich (England)
Arctic regions
Institutions
National Maritime Museum (Great Britain)
Great Britain. Royal Navy
Royal Observatory Greenwich
British Association for the Advancement of Science
Greenwich Observatory
Comments

Be the first to comment!

{{ comment.created_by.username }} on {{ comment.created_on | date:'medium' }}

Log in or register to comment