Global Positioning System Reference
In-Depth Information
4
One System, Two Narratives
Recollections and Documents
There are three stages of scientific discovery: first people deny
it is true; then they deny it is important; finally they credit the
wrong person.
Widely attributed to Alexander von Humboldt
Arguments about priority in inventing gps are vigorous. Sorting them out is
challenging due to the loss or unavailability of important documents and the
effect of time on memory. Fortunately, they have not led to murder, unlike this
tragicomic story: “John Glendon of St. Clement-Danes, Gent. was tried for the
Murther of Rupert Kempthorne, Gent. on the 28th of October last, giving him
a mortal wound near the Navel, of the depth of 10 Inches, of which wound he
died the next day. The Evidence in general deposed, That the Prisoner and
Mr. Kempthorne were at the Ship-Tavern at Temple-Bar, and some difference
arose between them about Latitude and Longitude; Mr. Kempthorne alledg-
ing that there was no such word as Longitude.”
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