Skip to content

Please be aware that some material may contain words, descriptions or illustrations which will not reflect current scientific understanding and may be considered in today's context inaccurate, unethical, offensive or distressing.

The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Unpublished paper and letter, 'On the importance of an expedition to determine the exact position of the NW [northwest] magnetic pole' by Colonel [John] Macdonald

Reference number: AP/13/13

Date: 01 March 1828

Description

Macdonald writes about the importance of discovering the present position of the northwest pole, or moving magnetic power, and writes about planning considerations for the expedition party. Preceded by a covering letter from Macdonald to Sir Humphry Davy.

Subject: Geodesy

Written by Macdonald in Summerlands, Exeter [Devon, England]. Communicated by Sir Humphry Davy.

Reference number
AP/13/13
Earliest possible date
01 March 1828
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
20 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

John Macdonald

View page for John Macdonald

Use this record

IIIF manifest

View​ IIIF ​ manifest Opens in new tab

Open in Mirador viewer Opens in new tab

Export this record

Download PDF Opens in new tab

Citation

John Macdonald, Unpublished paper and letter, 'On the importance of an expedition to determine the exact position of the NW [northwest] magnetic pole' by Colonel [John] Macdonald, 01 March 1828, AP/13/13, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_13_13/unpublished-paper-and-letter-on-the-importance-of-an-expedition-to-determine-the-exact-position-of-the-nw-northwest-magnetic-pole-by-colonel-john-macdonald, accessed on 10 December 2024

Link to this record

https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_13_13/unpublished-paper-and-letter-on-the-importance-of-an-expedition-to-determine-the-exact-position-of-the-nw-northwest-magnetic-pole-by-colonel-john-macdonald

Embed this record

<iframe src="https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/embed/items/ap_13_13/unpublished-paper-and-letter-on-the-importance-of-an-expedition-to-determine-the-exact-position-of-the-nw-northwest-magnetic-pole-by-colonel-john-macdonald" title="Unpublished paper and letter, 'On the importance of an expedition to determine the exact position of the NW [northwest] magnetic pole' by Colonel [John] Macdonald" allow="fullscreen" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="500px"></iframe>

Hierarchy

This item is part of:

Related Fellows

Explore the collection

  • Archived Papers

    Dates: 1768-1989

    The 'Archived Papers' collection is comprised of original manuscript scientific papers and letters submitted to the Royal Society which remained unpublished or were abstracted in the journal 'Proceedings of the Royal Society' published from 1830 onwards.

    View collection