Harrison, John

John Harrison (24 March 1693-24 March 1776) was an English watchmaker.

He was the first who was able to build marine chronometers 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.