This special online talk, taking place on September 23, 2025, revisits the history of navigation at sea. In the 18th century, methods developed to determine a ship’s position and the remarkable inventions of clockmaker John Harrison were long reduced to a singular “genius” narrative. However, drawing on collaborative research from Royal Museums Greenwich and the University of Cambridge, this new perspective situates Harrison’s story within the context of state exploration policies, the emergence of scientific commissions, and the cultural atmosphere of the era.
During the Georgian period, the structures established for maritime exploration signaled not only technological but also political transformations. The Longitude Act of 1714 initiated a process that incentivized innovation through a prize system, while being part of a broader state vision. Moving beyond the oft-repeated “lone genius” narrative, this talk uncovers the strategies of an empire’s maritime dominance and their impact on the scientific world.
The speaker, Richard Dunn, currently heads the Technology and Engineering Department at the Science Museum in London. Previously the Curator of Navigation History at Royal Museums Greenwich, Dunn is a co-author of significant works such as Finding Longitude and The Board of Longitude: Science, Innovation and Empire. An experienced researcher who has contributed to international exhibitions, Dunn reinterprets this story, extending beyond Harrison, through the lenses of history, science, and culture.
⏱ Date: September 23, 2025, 5:15–6:30 PM
📍 Online (via Zoom)
