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463:, who asked him to correct and revise the third edition on his fifth voyage. The task was so extensive that Bowditch decided to write his own book, and to "put down in the book nothing I can't teach the crew". On that trip, it is said that every man of the crew of 12, including the ship's cook, became competent to take and calculate lunar observations and to plot the correct position of the ship.
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shall sail, the needle point to the north, and the stars go through their wonted courses in the heavens, the name of Dr. Bowditch will be revered as of one who has helped his fellowmen in time of need, who was and is a guide to them over the pathless oceans, and one who forwarded the great interests of mankind.
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In his death a public, a national, a human benefactor has departed. Not this community nor our country only, but the whole world has reason to do honor to his memory. When the voice of eulogy shall cease to flow, no monument will be needed to keep alive his memory among men; but as long as ships
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In the 1840s and 1850s, Bowditch's son, H. I. Bowditch, ran the "Bowditch
Library" on Otis Place in Boston's Financial District. It was "free to those who reside in Boston, or in the vicinity. ... This is the library of the late Nathaniel Bowditch, and is almost exclusively of a scientific
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purchased the copyright and since that time the book has been in continuous publication, with regular revisions to keep it current. Bowditch's influence on the
American Practical Navigator was so profound that to this day mariners refer to it simply as
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offered
Bowditch chairs in mathematics. Bowditch again refused these offers, perhaps (in the case of the University of Virginia) because the $ 2,000 salary offered was two-thirds of the salary he received as president of the insurance company.
194:, to Habakkuk Bowditch, a cooper who at one point was a sailor as well but stopped after his ship went aground in 1775, and Mary Ingersoll Bowditch. At the age of ten, he was made to leave school to work in his father's
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In 1798 Bowditch married
Elizabeth Boardman, who died seven months later. In 1800 Bowditch married his second wife and cousin, Mary "Polly" Ingersoll Bowditch (1781–1834). They had 2 daughters and 6 sons, including
815:
459:, which was known to have errors. To have exact tables to work from, Bowditch recomputed all of Moore's tables, and rearranged and expanded the work. He contacted the US publisher of the work,
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and part owner of a ship. Following this voyage, he returned to Salem in 1803 to resume his mathematical studies and enter the insurance business. One of his family homes in Salem, the
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During his time at sea, Bowditch became intensely interested in the mathematics involved in celestial navigation. He worked initially with John
Hamilton Moore's London-published
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was completed by 1818. Publication of the work, however, was delayed for many years, most likely due to cost. Nonetheless, he continued to work on it with the assistance of
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as president of the Essex Fire and Marine
Insurance Company in Salem. Under his direction, the company prospered despite difficult political conditions and the
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was published and in 1806 he published naval charts of several harbors, including Salem. More scientific publications followed, including a study of a
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character." In 1858 the family gave the collection, "which consists mostly of mathematical and astronomical works", to the Boston Public
Library.
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In 1823, Bowditch left the Essex Fire and Marine
Insurance Company to become an actuary for the Massachusetts Hospital Life Insurance Company in
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built in 1922, which is currently part of the Maine
Windjammer fleet and sails out of Rockland, Maine, is also named after Nathaniel Bowditch.
255:, a lengthy work on mathematics and theoretical astronomy. This translation was critical to the development of astronomy in the United States.
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484:, which became the western hemisphere shipping industry standard for the next century and a half. The text included several solutions to the
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Bowditch's move from Salem to Boston involved the transfer of over 2,500 books, 100 maps and charts, and 29 volumes of his own manuscripts.
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The Salem Ferry High Speed
Catamaran named in honor of Nathaniel Bowditch is pictured as it is approaching its dock off Blaney Street in
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is named in his honor and houses classrooms, laboratories, and the 900-seat Ackerman Auditorium. He also gives his name to a street in
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Nathaniel Bowditch and the Power of Numbers: How a Nineteenth-Century Man of Business, Science, and the Sea Changed American Life
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497:. Student Naval officers prior to the establishment of the Naval Academy referred to the work as "the immaculate Bowditch".
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By 1819, Bowditch's international reputation had grown to the extent that he was elected as a member of the Royal Societies
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Bowditch's mathematical and astronomical work during this time earned him a significant standing, including election to the
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In 1795, Bowditch went to sea on the first of four voyages as a ship's clerk and captain's writer. His fifth voyage was as
281:, had intercepted the ship carrying the library between Ireland and England and brought the library back to Salem in 1781.
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431:) for wealthy individuals who made their fortunes at sea, directing their wealth toward manufacturing. Towns such as
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The statue was the first life-size bronze to be cast in America. It was the creation of renowned sculptor
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128:(March 26, 1773 – March 16, 1838) was an early American mathematician remembered for his work on ocean
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Nathaniel Ingersoll Bowditch. Memoir of Nathaniel Bowditch. Boston: C.C. Little and J. Brown, 1840.
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at Harvard in 1806, but turned it down. In 1804, an article on his observations of the
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that were new, as well as extensive formulae and tables for navigation. In 1866, the
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The history of the Boston medical library. Priv. print. by the Plimpton Press, 1918
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passenger ferry serving downtown Boston and Salem, were named for him, as was a
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1018:"Carry on, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham, 1955. Newbery Medal Award Winner
841:"Nathaniel Bowditch: Brief life of a mathematician and businessman: 1773-1839"
132:. He is often credited as the founder of modern maritime navigation; his book
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in 1790 and French in 1792 so he was able to read mathematical works such as
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Bowditch Point Park, in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, is named for Bowditch.
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In 1816, Harvard awarded Nathaniel Bowditch an honorary Doctor of Laws.
138:, first published in 1802, is still carried on board every commissioned
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Bowditch is often credited as the founder of modern maritime navigation.
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by Tamara Plakins Thornton, University of North Carolina Press, 2016
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Portrait of Mary Bowditch in Volume 1 of Pierre-Simon Laplace's "
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Nathaniel Bowditch (1773-1838), last and unfinished painting by
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The following eulogy was written by the Salem Marine Society:
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Bowditch's translation of the first four volumes of Laplace's
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Nathaniel Bowditch, the fourth of seven children, was born in
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Listing for the "Bowditch Library", Boston Directory, 1848
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Elizabeth Boardman Bowditch, Mary Polly Ingersoll Bowditch
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Hand-book for readers in the Boston public library. 1890
235:. He found thousands of errors in John Hamilton Moore's
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in 1809. He was offered the chair of mathematics and
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Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
959:"Bowditch Point Preserve: Land Management Plan 2018"
933:"Patricia Sheridan's Breakfast With ... David Morse"
330:In 1804, Bowditch became America's first insurance
569:, Massachusetts, where Nathaniel Bowditch was born
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711:Bowditch, Nathaniel Ingersoll (January 1, 1839).
18:American astronomer and mathematician (1773–1838)
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1148:Deaths from stomach cancer in the United States
629:in America were also named for him, in Boston,
405:, adding commentaries that doubled its length.
213:In 1786, age fourteen, Bowditch began to study
1046:Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum.
524:in 1838 from stomach cancer. He is buried in
477:In 1802 Blunt published the first edition of
731:The Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers
657:was named after him − David Bowditch Morse.
232:Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica
877:
625:A grammar school, two middle schools and a
427:. There he served as a "money manager" (an
1076:Bowditch, Nathaniel (1773-1838) Collection
470:Frontispiece of the 1802 first edition of
177:" (1829), translated by Nathaniel Bowditch
161:Dedication page by Nathaniel Bowditch in "
1143:Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
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710:
560:
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504:Nathaniel Bowditch's memorial statue by
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1064:MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive
788:"Book of Members, 1780–2010: Chapter B"
451:Bowditch's American Practical Navigator
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369:(1815, 1818, 1820) and a study of the
361:explosion (1807), three papers on the
217:and two years later he taught himself
795:American Academy of Arts and Sciences
647:United States Merchant Marine Academy
608:In 1955, a book for younger readers,
343:American Academy of Arts and Sciences
327:awarded Bowditch an honorary degree.
323:was first published. That same year,
1153:Foreign members of the Royal Society
1118:19th-century American mathematicians
1113:18th-century American mathematicians
135:The New American Practical Navigator
1168:Deaths from cancer in Massachusetts
1049:Bowditch Family Papers, 1726/7-1975
780:
13:
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988:"Nathaniel Bowditch 2014 Inductee"
377:suspended from two points (1815).
241:Philosophical Transactions of the
14:
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1123:19th-century American astronomers
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490:United States Hydrographic Office
472:The American Practical Navigator.
1163:Burials at Mount Auburn Cemetery
321:The American Practical Navigator
181:
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663:Bowditch was inducted into the
308:. Among his grandchildren were
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859:
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767:"The Nathaniel Bowditch House"
759:
721:
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687:List of amateur mathematicians
578:The Oceanographic Survey Ship
385:United States Military Academy
347:American Philosophical Society
202:at twelve for nine years as a
1:
1042:Mathematics Genealogy Project
697:
665:National Sailing Hall of Fame
277:from Salem who captained the
192:Province of Massachusetts Bay
61:Province of Massachusetts Bay
714:Memoir of Nathaniel Bowditch
481:American Practical Navigator
444:American Practical Navigator
7:
907:"Overview — Sail Bowditch!"
670:
398:Traité de mécanique céleste
373:created by the motion of a
237:The New Practical Navigator
10:
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839:Thornton, Tamara Pkakins,
486:spherical triangle problem
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314:Charles Pickering Bowditch
306:William Ingersoll Bowditch
294:National Historic Landmark
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221:. He also taught himself
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1069:University of St Andrews
514:Cambridge, Massachusetts
383:As well as Harvard, the
310:Henry Pickering Bowditch
302:Henry Ingersoll Bowditch
290:Nathaniel Bowditch House
1074:Boston Public Library.
937:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
728:Hockey, Thomas (2009).
631:Foster City, California
435:prospered as a result.
249:Pierre-Simon de Laplace
1020:Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
865:Boston Directory. 1856
635:Bowditch Middle School
611:Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
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389:University of Virginia
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1128:History of navigation
622:, published in 1941.
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526:Mount Auburn Cemetery
510:Mount Auburn Cemetery
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469:
449:Further information:
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148:
1059:"Nathaniel Bowditch"
1055:Robertson, Edmund F.
913:on November 13, 2013
820:search.amphilsoc.org
816:"APS Member History"
651:Berkeley, California
639:Salem, Massachusetts
1053:O'Connor, John J.;
847:, July-August 2016.
736:Springer Publishing
643:Salem State College
614:, was published by
418:Royal Irish Academy
263:self-directed study
81:, Massachusetts, US
1158:American actuaries
1081:Nathaniel Bowditch
1038:Nathaniel Bowditch
597:. Additionally, a
587:Nathaniel Bowditch
571:
555:
533:Robert Ball Hughes
518:
506:Robert Ball Hughes
475:
461:Edmund March Blunt
429:investment manager
325:Harvard University
319:In 1802, his book
198:, before becoming
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126:Nathaniel Bowditch
25:Nathaniel Bowditch
745:978-0-387-31022-0
682:List of actuaries
520:Bowditch died in
371:Lissajous figures
261:aided Bowditch's
253:Mécanique céleste
175:Mécanique céleste
163:Mécanique céleste
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1133:American sailors
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1014:Internet Archive
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992:. Retrieved
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943:November 13,
941:. Retrieved
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917:November 13,
915:. Retrieved
911:the original
901:
889:. Retrieved
885:"Our Vessel"
879:
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823:. Retrieved
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800:September 8,
798:. Retrieved
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749:. Retrieved
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692:USS Bowditch
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599:William Hand
595:lunar crater
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73:(1838-03-16)
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1108:1838 deaths
1103:1773 births
990:. Nshof.org
655:David Morse
479:Bowditch's
442:Bowditch's
336:War of 1812
259:Serendipity
204:bookkeeping
1097:Categories
966:Lee County
751:August 22,
698:References
601:–designed
580:USNS
416:, and the
200:indentured
140:U.S. Naval
130:navigation
49:1773-03-26
994:April 11,
667:in 2014.
591:catamaran
457:Navigator
275:privateer
271:Hugh Hill
245:of London
196:cooperage
110:Signature
102:Spouse(s)
891:July 21,
825:April 2,
772:June 11,
671:See also
653:. Actor
603:Schooner
585:and the
582:Bowditch
495:Bowditch
387:and the
375:pendulum
219:calculus
142:vessel.
1040:at the
351:physics
332:actuary
279:Pilgrim
215:algebra
96:actuary
742:
574:Legacy
522:Boston
433:Lowell
425:Boston
414:London
367:comets
363:orbits
359:meteor
286:master
94:, and
79:Boston
962:(PDF)
791:(PDF)
567:Salem
508:, in
223:Latin
188:Salem
57:Salem
996:2020
974:2020
945:2013
919:2013
893:2009
827:2021
802:2016
774:2019
753:2012
740:ISBN
641:and
627:dorm
412:and
355:Moon
312:and
304:and
273:, a
68:Died
43:Born
1083:at
637:),
365:of
251:'s
229:'s
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