John Barrow (historian) facts for kids
John Barrow was an English expert who lived from about 1735 to 1774. He was a skilled mathematician, a historian of the navy, and a lexicographer. This means he wrote and compiled dictionaries. His first dictionary about geography was published in 1756.
Contents
About John Barrow's Life
Early Career and Retirement
We don't know much about John Barrow's family. He started his career as a teacher. He taught mathematics and navigation to sailors. He worked on ships of the Royal Navy.
Before 1750, Barrow retired from teaching. After retiring, he focused on writing. He spent his time creating dictionaries and other books. These books were about his favorite subjects: mathematics and science.
One of Barrow's most famous books was Navigatio Britannica. It was published in 1750. This book was a helpful guide for sailors. It included important charts and tips for navigation.
The book also looked closely at tools used on ships. It explained how to use the vernier scale. This was a new tool for measuring things very precisely. Barrow worked closely with people who made these instruments.
For a long time, people thought there were two different John Barrows. One was known for writing geographical books. The other was the math teacher. It wasn't until the 1900s that everyone realized they were the same person!
Writing About Discoveries
In 1756, John Barrow published a dictionary about geography. He didn't put his name on it at first. It was printed in London.
In the same year, he released another major book. It was called A Chronological Abridgment or History of the Discoveries made by Europeans in the different parts of the world. This book showed he knew a lot about how to find places on Earth. He understood how to use stars to figure out latitude and longitude.
His History of Discoveries was even more popular in France. A French version was published. However, another French book soon became more famous.
Famous Explorers in His Books
Barrow's book on discoveries covered many famous journeys. He wrote about explorers like Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama. He also included Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh.
Other explorers he wrote about were William Dampier and Lord Anson. These stories helped people learn about the world. A second edition of his book came out in 1765. It was so popular that a French translation was published the next year.
Artistic Contributions
John Barrow also helped create pictures for a book. This book was called Sketches Representing the Native Tribes, Animals, and Scenery of Southern Africa. He worked with another artist named Samuel Daniell on these illustrations.
Selected Works by John Barrow
- Dictionarium polygraphicum (1735)
- Dictionarium medicum universale (1749)
- Navigatio Britannia (1750)
- New and Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (1751)
- The Naval History of Great Britain (4 vols, 1758)
- Geographical Dictionary (2 vols, 1759–60)
- A New and Impartial History of England, from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Signing of Preliminaries of Peace, 1762 (1763)
- Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (1764)
- A Collection of Authentic, Useful, and Entertaining Voyages and Discoveries (3 vols, 1765)
 | Charles R. Drew |
 | Benjamin Banneker |
 | Jane C. Wright |
 | Roger Arliner Young |
