NATHANIEL BOWDITCH MARINE NAVIGATOR, MATHEMATICIAN, SCIENTIST, ACTUARY 1773-1838

摘要

In the more than 200 years since the first printing of Bowditch's American Practical Navigator, the story of his life and his lasting contribution to marine navigation has appeared periodically in articles and books. The objective of this essay is to bring attention for perhaps a new audience to consider his admirable and broad accomplishments and fine character. What appears here is a brief reprise of some of his life's highlights as noted over the years by various authors.* The story of his life quickly reveals his determination to learn, know and grow in spite of his circumstances. His life was a full one and his navigation book soon to be known as Bowditch was perhaps the most important, but in no sense the only, contribution from his life's work.