Chapter I: Front Matter

_NAT THE NAVIGATOR._

A LIFE
OF
NATHANIEL BOWDITCH.

FOR YOUNG PERSONS.

BOSTON:
LEE AND SHEPARD.
1870.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by
LEE AND SHEPARD,
In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the District of
Massachusetts.

ELECTROTYPED AT THE
BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY,
No. 19 Spring Lane.

* * * * *

BOSTON, December, 1869.

Moved by feelings I could scarcely comprehend, while, at the same time, they were most sweet to me, I was led to talk with the pupils of the Warren Street Chapel on the Sunday afternoon after my father died. The subjects were his active and good life and happy death. I am aware that some of my nearest friends thought it strange that my heart, on the occasion of his death, was filled with a kind of joy rather than with sadness. To them I could merely say, that an event so calm, and under such circumstances of suffering as he then was, suggested to me nothing like real sorrow. I wished my young companions to feel as I did, and that, in their minds, a quiet death following a good life should be clothed with beauty, and that they might thus be led to believe that, in accordance with the Scotch proverb, “A gude life makes a gude end. At least it helps weel.” Horace Mann was present during the address. Being deeply interested in the education of the young, he requested me to prepare for his Common School Journal a sketch similar to that I had spoken. In accordance with that desire, a memoir was prepared, and after its publication the Warren Street Chapel Association requested that it should be put, with some revision, into this form. And as it was originally prepared for, and dedicated to, the pupils of that institution,

SO I NOW DEDICATE IT

ANEW TO THE

GIRLS AND BOYS OF WARREN STREET CHAPEL.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAPTER I.

_From 1773 to 1784—under 10 years of age._

Birth.—Childhood 11

CHAPTER II.

_From 1784 to 1795—between the ages of 10 and 21._

His apprenticeship, his habits.—Studies Chambers’s
Cyclopædia.—Results of his studies; gains the respect of
all.—Dr. Bentley, Dr. Prince, and Mr. Reed, do him kindness; by
their means allowed access to “The Philosophical Library.”—He
makes philosophical instruments.—Calculates an Almanac at
the age of fourteen.—Studies algebra: delight he experienced
from this new pursuit.—Learns Latin.—Reads works by Sir Isaac
Newton.—Studies French 23

CHAPTER III.

_From 1784 to 1796—age, 10-22._

Apprenticeship continued.—Favorite of his companions.—Learns
music; neglects his studies for a time.—Gets into bad society;
his decision in freeing himself from it.—Engages in a survey
of the town of Salem.—Sails on his first voyage to the East
Indies; extracts from his Journal during this voyage; arrival
at the Isle of Bourbon; return home 37

CHAPTER IV.

_From 1796 to 1797—age, 23-4._

Second voyage.—Visits Lisbon.—Island of Madeira; festival and
games there.—Anecdotes of his skill as an accountant.—Doubles
Cape of Good Hope.—Albatrosses.—Arrival at Manilla.—Extracts
from Journal.—Curious boat.—Earthquake.—Voyage home 46

CHAPTER V.

_From 1797 to 1800—age, 24-7._

Marriage.—Third voyage; visits Spain.—Dangers.—Earl
St. Vincent’s fleet.—Arrival at Cadiz.—Observatory at
Cadiz.—Sails for Alicant.—Passage through the Straits of
Gibraltar.—Privateers; chased by one; anecdotes of Mr. B.’s
love of study shown then.—Hears news of the death of his wife;
consoles himself with mathematical studies.—More troubles with
privateers.—Leaves Alicant.—Advantages derived from his visit
to Spain.—Fourth voyage; to India.—Extracts from Journal on
viewing a ship that was engaged in the slave trade.—Arrival at
Java; introduction to the governor; respect formerly paid to
him.—Anecdote of English navy officers.—Goes to Batavia and
Manilla.—Observations of Jupiter while becalmed near the
Celebean Islands.—Voyage home 62

CHAPTER VI.

_From 1800 to 1803—age, 27-30._

Second marriage; character of his wife.—Mr. Bowditch engages
in commerce for two years.—School committee.—East India
Marine Society; a description of the annual meeting of this
society.—Mr. Bowditch becomes part owner of ship Putnam, and
sails for India.—Anecdote, occurrence a few days after leaving
Salem.—Studies during the long voyage.—Begins to study and make
notes upon La Place’s “Mécanique Céleste.”—Arrival off Sumatra;
difficulties there.—Boarded by English man-of-war.—Revisits
Isle of France.—Journal extracts about modes of procuring
pepper; seasons for it, &c.—Incident on approaching Salem
harbor.—Decision of Mr. Bowditch 80

CHAPTER VII.

Review of the labors, &c., performed by Mr. Bowditch, during
these voyages.—Habits while at sea; studies; desire to teach
others; kindness to sailors and to the sick.—Discovers errors
in a book on navigation.—Origin of “American Practical
Navigator;” success of it; industry of Mr. Bowditch upon
it.—Investigates higher branches of science.—“Mécanique
Céleste.”—Mr. Bowditch reads history.—Learns Spanish, French,
and Portuguese languages.—Anecdotes.—Chosen member of American
Academy.—Receives honors from Harvard College 99

CHAPTER VIII.

_From 1803 to 1817—age, 30-44._

Mr. Bowditch translates a Spanish paper; is chosen President
of a Fire and Marine Insurance Office.—Habits of life.—Becomes
interested in politics.—Federalists and Democrats.—Great
excitement.—Division between him and old friends in
consequence of his zeal.—Feelings of Mr. Bowditch when war
was declared.—Decision of character.—His charity.—Earnestness
in aiding others; ludicrous instance of the effects of
this.—Boldness towards a truckman.—Zeal for improving the
libraries; unites the two.—Dr. Prince’s church.—Performance
of duties of President of Insurance Office.—Answer to an
overbearing rich man.—Appointed Professor of Mathematics at
Harvard College; same at West Point.—His modesty.—Hints
about leaving Salem 115

CHAPTER IX.

_From 1803 to 1823—age, 30-50._

Papers published by Mr. Bowditch in the Memoirs of the Academy;
account of some of them.—Total eclipse of the sun in 1806;
effect of it.—Anecdote of Chief Justice Parsons.—Meteor that
fell over Weston, Ct.; account of its curious appearance;
effect of these papers upon his fame in Europe.—Chosen member
of most of the learned societies of the Old World.—Quits Salem
to become connected with larger institutions in Boston 131

CHAPTER X.

Sketch of the life of La Place, author of the “Mécanique
Céleste.”—Newton’s labors.—Halley’s comet.—The importance of
astronomy to navigation.—Comets; Dr. Bowditch translates the
Mécanique Céleste; difficulties attending the undertaking;
objects he had in view; first volume analyzed; Newton’s error
pointed out 149

CHAPTER XI.

Commentary continued; second volume.—Discussion between
the English and French mathematicians; Dr. Bowditch’s
criticisms.—Errors in La Place in regard to the earth,
&c.—Third volume; motions of the moon.—Fourth volume; many
errors discovered in it.—Halley’s comet.—Curious phenomena
of capillary attraction 169

CHAPTER XII.

_Death, March 17, 1838, aged 65._

Sketch of the life of La Grange, the equal of La Place; love
Dr. Bowditch had for La Grange’s character; comparison between
him and La Place; also between him and Dr. Bowditch.—Conclusion
of the Memoir 176

NAT THE NAVIGATOR.