Nathaniel Bowditch ( 1773 - 1838 )

Birth: Salem, Massachusetts (26 March 1773) Death: Boston, Massachusetts, USA (? 17 March 1838) Research Field: Astronomy Career: Apprenticed to a ship chandler; learned mathematics and Latin; served as a supercargo and made four long voyages (1795); was good at navigation, so commanded a vessel himself; Actuary to an insurance company (1804); published "A new American practical navigator" Membership: Foreign Member Election Date: 12/03/1818.