Nathaniel Bowditch and the Power of Numbers

April 15, 2016

Nathaniel Bowditch (1773-1838) was one of the first polymath figures in U.S. history and is primarily remembered as the founder of modern maritime navigation. His interests in mathematics, astronomy, and navigation took him from seafaring to work as an actuarial and insurance executive. In his later years, Bowditch focused on standardizing business practices to document business decisions. Here, Thornton (history, State Univ. of New York, Buffalo; Handwriting in America: A Cultural History) digs into contemporary publications alongside Bowditch's own scientific correspondence (he burned the personal ones before he died) to present a window into the dual worlds of business and science in the early years of the republic. Thornton traces Bowditch's early life in Salem, MA, to his work with seafaring vessels and his eventual placement on the governing board of Harvard University as the vice president for the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. VERDICT This recommended biography rediscovers an eccentric who was key in improving several emerging industries. Readers of early American history will find a rich story that moves between New England high society and the founding of the natural sciences.--John Rodzvilla, Emerson Coll., Boston

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