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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Unpublished letter, regarding a substitute for a horizon at sea from Wm [William] Ricketts to an unknown recipient

Reference number: AP/13/23

Date: 11 May 1829

Description

Ricketts describes his idea for an invention that will assist mariners at marking the horizon when it is seen, which can then be 'saved' and used for navigation later on, when the horizon may no longer be visible.

Subject: Navigation / Scientific Instruments

Written by Ricketts in Knockholt [Kent, England]. Ricketts requests that a response be addressed to Knockholt, New Seven Oaks, Kent.

Reference number
AP/13/23
Earliest possible date
11 May 1829
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
2 pages
Format
Manuscript

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Citation

Unpublished letter, regarding a substitute for a horizon at sea from Wm [William] Ricketts to an unknown recipient, 11 May 1829, AP/13/23, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_13_23/unpublished-letter-regarding-a-substitute-for-a-horizon-at-sea-from-wm-william-ricketts-to-an-unknown-recipient, accessed on 10 May 2026

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_13_23/unpublished-letter-regarding-a-substitute-for-a-horizon-at-sea-from-wm-william-ricketts-to-an-unknown-recipient

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  • Archived Papers

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is comprised of original manuscript scientific papers and letters submitted to the Royal Society which remained unpublished or were abstracted in the journal 'Proceedings of the Royal Society' published from 1830 onwards.

    Dates: 1768 - 1989

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