Nat the Navigator. a Life of Nathaniel Bowditch. for Young Persons

CHAPTER II.. _from 1784 to 1795—Between the Ages of 10 and 21._

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._

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._

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._

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._

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

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._

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._

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

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

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._

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.

CHAPTER I.. _from 1773 to 1784—Under 10 Years of Age._

From 1773 to 1784—under 10 years of age.

Birth.—Childhood.

Nathaniel Bowditch, whose history I shall relate to you, was one whose character and actions presented many circumstances which cannot fail of being interesting to you. He died more than thirty years ago, in Boston; and, from having been a poor and ignorant boy, he became a man known all over the world for his great learning, while at the same time he was beloved for the goodness of his heart and the integrity of his character. May the perusal of his history excite some of you to imitate his virtues and his energy.

He was born in Salem, a town about fourteen miles from Boston, the capital city of our State of Massachusetts. His birthday was March 26, 1773. His father was at first a cooper, and afterwards a shipmaster. He and his wife were exceedingly poor, and they had many children. Nat was the fourth child. He had two sisters and three brothers. When he was about two and a half years old, his parents removed to a very small wooden house in Danvers, about three miles from Salem; and here the boy attended school for the first time, and began to show those generous feelings, and that love of learning, which he displayed so much in after-life. A few years ago the old school-house in which he learned to spell and read remained entire. It was an old-fashioned building, with a long, slanting roof, which, at the back of the house, nearly reached the ground. Its single chimney, with many curious and pretty corners, then rose in the middle of the roof, as it had for ninety years. Around the dwelling is a grass plat, upon which he used, when a child like yourselves, to play with his schoolmates. It was planted with shrubs, such as the farmers most need. The house in which he lived still stands nearly opposite that in which the school was kept. This house formerly had but two rooms in it, and all its furniture was of the simplest kind.

I visited the relations of the schoolmistress. She died many, many years ago; but her niece, when I asked about Nat Bowditch, told me how her aunt used to love him for his earnestness in pursuing his studies, and for his gentleness, while under her care. He was “a nice boy,” she used to say. While in Danvers, his father was most of the time at sea, he having been obliged to give up his trade and become a sailor when the Revolutionary War broke out. Nat lived, during his father’s absence, very happily with his mother and his brothers and sisters. During the whole of his after-life, he used to delight to go near the small house in which he had dwelt so pleasantly. The family was “a family of love.” He had a brother William, to whom he was very much attached. He was more grave and sober than Nat; for the latter, with all his devotion to study, was full of fun, frolic, and good nature. But William was equally, and perhaps more, gentle. The brothers frequently studied together from an old family Bible, and on Sundays, when they were quite small, their grandmother, who was a very excellent woman, used to place this large book, with its wooden covers and bright brazen clasps, upon the foot of her bed; and hour after hour did those two boys trace, with their fingers upon the map, the forty years’ wanderings of the Israelites, before they came into the long-looked-for land of Canaan.

I have said that Nat frequently went to look upon the house in which he had lived; and so he often called upon the family in which this old Bible was kept, in order that he might see the volume which he had so loved when a boy. It reminded him of the delightful home of his childhood, where his dear and worthy mother tried to make him good, in order that he might become an honor to her and to the people. His mother was one who was extremely kind; yet she was by no means afraid to correct her children, if she found them doing wrong. Nat sometimes suffered, because, like every boy, he sometimes did wrong; but generally the mother found that he could be easily guided by her love. I seem to see her now, taking her little son, and leading him to the window of the cottage in Danvers, to see the beautiful new moon just setting in the west, while, at the same time, she kisses and blesses him, and talks to him of his absent father, and they both send up earnest wishes for his safe and speedy return. She was very careful to instil into all her children the importance of truth. “Speak the truth always, my boy,” said she. She likewise loved religion, and she was very liberal in her feelings towards those who differed from her upon this subject. Nevertheless, believing that the Episcopal kind of worship was the most correct, she educated all her children in that form. An anecdote which Nat, when he became a man, often related, will show you how much influence her instructions in this particular had upon him. Among the Episcopalians the prayers are read, and the people repeat, aloud, some answer. One day Nat called his brothers and sisters around him, and, taking his mother’s Book of Prayer, with a sober face began to read aloud from it, while his brothers made the answers. They had continued some minutes amusing themselves in this way, when their mother entered the room. She was very much troubled at first, as she supposed they were ridiculing the services she held as sacred. “My sons,” said she, “I am pleased to see you read that book; but you should never do so in a careless manner.” They told her that, though playing, they did not think to do any harm, or to show any disrespect.

Continue reading Nat the Navigator. a Life of Nathaniel Bowditch. for Young Persons free in the Wunder reader →