John Hadley
Mathematician and inventor of the octant
Born
April 16th, 1682
342 years ago
Died
February 14th, 1744
281 years ago — 61 years old
Category
Scientists & Innovators
Country
England
Links & References
Contributions to mathematics and navigation included the invention of the octant, an important navigational instrument used at sea. The octant allowed sailors to measure angles up to 90 degrees and later influenced the development of more advanced tools. Hadley published works detailing the principles of the octant and its applications in navigation, contributing to the field of celestial navigation. His innovations aided explorers and navigators in more accurately determining their positions at sea, proving crucial during the Age of Discovery.
Invented the octant in 1730
Published works on celestial navigation
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