"
The terms of this offer indicate how great must have been the
risk and inconvenience which it was desired to remedy. Indeed,
it is almost inconceivable that a reward so great could be held
out for a method which would merely afford security within eighty
geographical miles!
This splendid reward for a method of discovering the longitude
was offered to the world--to inventors and scientific men of all
countries --without restriction of race, or nation, or language.
As might naturally be expected, the prospect of obtaining it
stimulated many ingenious men to make suggestions and contrive
experiments; but for many years the successful construction of a
marine time-keeper seemed almost hopeless. At length, to the
surprise of every one, the prize was won by a village
carpenter--a person of no school, or university, or college
whatever.
Even so distinguished an artist and philosopher as Sir
Christopher Wren was engaged, as late in his life as the year
1720, in attempting to solve this important problem. As has been
observed, in the memoir of him contained in the 'Biographia
Britannica,'[3] "This noble invention, like some others of the
most useful ones to human life, seems to be reserved for the
peculiar glory of an ordinary mechanic, who, by indefatigable
industry, under the guidance of no ordinary sagacity, hath
seemingly at last surmounted all difficulties, and brought it to
a most unexpected degree of perfection.
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