====== Harrison, John ======
{{wst>image_r|Harrison,_John|John Harrison (1693-1776)}}
**John Harrison** (24 March [[1693]]-24 March [[1776]]) was an English watchmaker.

He was the first who was able to build [[marine chronometer]]s with high accuracy. The accuracy of these watches was so important, because it allowed the exact position determination of sailing ships.

Already in [[1735]] he introduced the first watch of this kind. The high prize money set in [[1714]] for the solution of the longitude problem, however, was withheld until shortly before his death.

John Harrison was a friend of another famous English watchmaker, [[George Graham]], who encouraged his work and supported it in different, also financial ways.


{{tag>Biographies}}