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The New American Practical Navigator

Author Nathaniel Bowditch (American, 1773 - 1838)

Date1802

Object number00008604

NameBook

MediumInk on paper, leather

DimensionsOverall: 232 x 146 x 62 mm, 0.9 kg
Display Dimensions: 230 x 150 x 75 mm

ClassificationsBooks and journals

Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds

Terms

DescriptionA first edition of 'The New American Practical Navigator" by Nathaniel Bowditch, fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. This book "being an epitome of navigation; containing all the tables necessary to be used with the nautical almanac, in determining the latitude; and the longitude by lunar observations; and keeping a complete reckoning at sea: illustrated by proper rules and examples", would revolutionize maritime navigation and its wide accessibility ensured it would remain a shipboard staple to this day. HistoryAlthough born and raised in the seaside town of Salem, Nathanial Bowditch was not himself a natural sailor. It is said that being physically small he would have not made a desired crew member and so he found himself working in a ship chandlery rather than at sea. Whilst there it became clear that Bowditch was especially gifted intellectually. Although he had left school at age ten he never stopped learning and pursued every book he could access to expand his knowledge, including teaching himself various languages. But Bowditch's overwhelming gift was for mathematics. Not only did calculations and applications come naturally to him, Bowditch was captivated by astronomy and navigation, believing the possibility that maths and a knowledge of the stars could help solve the age old problem of being able to accurately determine a ship's position at sea. In 1795 Bowditch was given the chance to expand on his theories by joining the crew of the HENRY on a voyage to Réunion, off the east coast of Africa. Throughout the journey Bowditch worked on his calculations and supported by a sympathetic captain, he was able to make huge progress on his theories including “a new method of working a Lunar Observation' which was a significant breakthrough in determine longitude without the use of a chronometer. So successful was his work on the HENRY that Bowditch was offered another trial run on the ASTERA on a voyage to Manila, the first of its kind leaving Salem. This was a dangerous undertaking considering the monsoonal weather the ship would encounter but Captain Prince, who had led the HENRY voyage, had faith in Bowditch's skill and was convinced the round trip could be made in a year, rather than the three years previously estimated. The voyage was a success as the ASTREA returned to Salem in 14 months and it was largely due to Bowditch who has perfected his methods and calculations on board. It was proposed to Bowditch that although he had made important revisions to traditional navigational theory, there was still a problematic gap in these reliable calculations and the ability of crew on board ships to interpret them. In an attempt to rectify this issue Bowditch undertook another voyage to Manila with the thought of making his navigational charts and formulas accessible to every crew member on board a ship, or the 'common man'. On this second voyage to Manila, again on the ASTREA, Bowditch took on the job of teaching every crew member the basics of his work, how to use a sextant, the charts and astronomy. He included them in navigating the ship by the stars until by the end of the journey they were all competent navigators. By doing this Bowditch had accumulated the knowledge of how to present his workings in an accessible way to most people and to how make these calculations in the shortest time possible. Once back in Salem, Bowditch worked hard on compiling his data and charts and the finished product, 'The New American Practical Navigator' was published in 1802. Included was not only the important method of determining longitude and latitude by lunar observations but also the basics of mathematics, general maritime and information 'mercantile customs'. Surprisingly the edition was slow to be adopted. Although mathematicians could see its value, sea farers seemed to need more proof. It took an extraordinary journey by Bowditch using his own navigational expertise to convince others that 'The New American Practical Navigator' was all that he said it was. In 1803 Bowditch captained the ship PUTNAM back into Salem harbour during a ferocious storm. No other sailor would have attempted this and certainly none would have thought it possible, and yet Bowditch achieved it. This was the practical how-to mariners seemed to need and from then on Bowditch's reputation and 'The New American Practical Navigator' grew in popularity. Bowditch received much acclaim and recognition from then on and in addition to academic honours he was widely acknowledged as contributing the greatest service to maritime navigation that the United States had seen. Known as Salem’s “arithmetic sailor” Bowditch's ground breaking 'The New American Practical Navigator' which has doubtlessly saved thousands of lives, is still published today. Significance'The New American Practical Navigator', universally known by navigators as "Bowditch", has remained the best known if not the most important American contribution to safe navigation. It was regarded as the first complete work on navigation for 'The Common Man' and it is said that when he died in 1838, ships of all nations in ports throughout the world flew their flags at half-mast.