tive of Harrison's career was ever written. Only a
short notice of him appears in the 'Biographia Britannica,' published
in 1766, during his lifetime'--the facts of which were obtained from
himself. A few notices of him appear in the 'Annual Register,' also
published during his lifetime. The final notice appeared in the volume
published in 1777, the year after his death. No Life of him has since
appeared. Had he been a destructive hero, and fought battles by land
or sea, we should have had biographies of him without end. But he
pursued a more peaceful and industrious course. His discovery
conferred an incalculable advantage on navigation, and enabled
innumerable lives to be saved at sea; it also added to the domains of
science by its more exact measurement of time. But his memory has been
suffered to pass silently away, without any record being left for the
benefit and advantage of those who have succeeded him. The following
memoir includes nearly all that is known of the life and labours of
John Harrison.

He was born at Foulby, in the parish of Wragby, near Pontefract,
Yorkshire, in March, 1693. His father, Henry Harrison, was carpenter
and joiner to Sir Rowland Winn, owner of the Nostell Priory estate.
The present house was built by the baronet on the site of the ancient
priory. Henry Harrison was a sort of retainer of the family, and long
continued in their Service.

Little is known of the boy's education. It was certainly of a very
inferior description. Like George Stephenson, Harrison always had a
great difficulty in making himself understood, either by speech or
writing. Indeed, every board-school boy now receives a better
education than John Harrison did a hundred and eighty years ago. But
education does not altogether come by reading and writing. The boy was
possessed of vigorous natural abilities. He was especially attracted
by every machine that moved upon wheels. The boy was 'father to the
man.' When six years old, and lying sick of small-pox, a going watch
was placed upon his pillow, which afforded him infinite delight.

When seven years old he was taken by his father to Barrow, near
Barton-on-Humber, where Sir Rowland Winn had another residence and
estate. Henry Harrison was still acting as the baronet's carpenter and
joiner. In course of time young Harrison joined his father in the
workshop, and proved of great use to him. His opportunities for
acquiring knowledge were still very few