PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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John Thomas Towson was born on April 8th 1804 at Fore Street, Plymouth Dock, to Mr John Gay Towson and his wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Thomas. On November 19th 1840 he was married at Stoke Damerel Parish Church to Miss Margaret Braddon, the daughter of a sailmaker. He became a watchmaker but his great interest in science led him to invent a means by which photographs could be made on glass and on special sensitive paper. He was also the person who discovered that the fastest route across the Atalantic Ocean to America was by sailing the great circle. In 1850 he was appointed the scientific examiner of ships' masters at Liverpool and examiner in compasses. Among his many publications was one on "Practical Information on the Deviation of the Compass". Mr John Thomas Towson died at 47 Upper Parliament Street, Liverpool, on January 3rd 1881.
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