Abstract :
Although largely remembered as an astronomer, the Reverend George Fisher
(1794–1873) played a significant part in studying the performance and possible improvement
of marine chronometers in the mid-nineteenth century. Appointed astronomer to the Royal
Navy’s Arctic expedition of 1818, while on the voyage Fisher carried out research into the
effects of magnetism on the accurate running of chronometers on board ship. By this time,
chronometers were standard equipment on many ships and their reliability was a matter of
importance to all mariners. Fisher’s published findings from this research led to considerable
contemporary debate, and also influenced the work of others in the field. Moreover, as papers
held at the National Maritime Museum show, he carried on his chronometer research in later
life, making further contributions to the subject that have remained somewhat neglected.
