| William Bourne
(mathematician)
from Wikipedia
William Bourne (c. 1535-1582) was an English mathematician,
innkeeper and former Royal Navy gunner who invented the first navigable
submarine and wrote important navigational manuals. He is often called
William Bourne of Gravesend.
In 1574, he produced a popular version of the
Martín Cortés de Albacar's Arte de Navegar, entitled A Regiment
for the Sea. Bourne was critical of some aspects of the original and produced
a manual of more practical use to the seaman. He described how to make
observations of the sun and stars, using a cross-staff, and how to plot
coastal features from the ship by taking bearings using triangulation.
Life in Gravesend
Before publishing his submarine design, William
Bourne was a jurat in Gravesend, England. His name first appears in the
first charter of incorporation of Gravesend from June 5, 1562. His name
appears once again as a jurat in the second charter of Gravesend, June
5, 1568. During the time of the second charter, the only records of regulations
for trading in Gravesend are written in Bourne's handwriting. This would
imply that he held an office such as clerk of the market. He also worked
as an innkeeper during this time, one of fourteen in the town of Gravesend.
| Submarine Design
Before publishing his submarine design, William
Bourne was a jurat in Gravesend, England. His name first appears in the
first charter of incorporation of Gravesend from June 5, 1562. His name
appears once again as a jurat in the second charter of Gravesend, June
5, 1568. During the time of the second charter, the only records of regulations
for trading in Gravesend are written in Bourne's handwriting. This would
imply that he held an office such as clerk of the market. He also worked
as an innkeeper during this time, one of fourteen in the town of Gravesend.
Inventions or Devises |
Submarine by William Bourne,
in Inventions or devices, 1578. |
Inventions or Devises, published in 1578, is one
of William Bourne's more important works. This book gives many guides and
instructional tools for sailors, mostly concerning interactions with other
ships. The 21st device listed is the earliest known description of a ship's
log and line. The 75th device on the list is a description of a night signal
or early semaphore system to be used between people on distant ships who
had previously decided on a code consisting of a series of lights and fashion
of standing. The 110th entry is a very early description of a telescope.
He describes a device consisting of two glasses that, when arranged properly,
will allow you to read a letter from a quarter-mile away or see a man,
town, or castle from four or five miles away. This description predates
the earliest known working telescope by 30 years.
Partial list of publications
An Almanac and Prognostication
for Three Years, 1571
William Bourns booke of artillery,
1572 (draft manuscript)
Treasure for Travellers, 1572/3
Art of Shooting in Great Ordnance,
1572/3
A Regiment for the Sea, 1574
(11 English editions from 1574 to 1631, at least 3 Dutch editions starting
in 1594)
A Booke called the Treasure
for Traueilers, 1578 (republished in 1641 as A Mate for Mariners)
Inventions or Devises. Very
Necessary for all Generalles and Captaines, as wel by Sea as by Land, 1578
The Arte of Shooting in Great
Ordinance, 1578, 1587, 1643
"On Optical Glasses," transcribed
manuscript published in Halliwell's Rara Mathematica.
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