Smithsonian
  • Navigating
    at Sea
    • Challenges of Sea Navigation
    • Navigating Without a Clock
    • The Longitude Problem
    • The U.S. Goes to Sea
    • Navigate at Sea! Activity
  • Navigating
    in the Air
    • Challenges of Air Navigation
    • Early Air Navigators
    • Navigation at War
    • Navigate the Skies! Activity
  • Navigating
    in Space
    • Challenges of Space Navigation
    • Reaching for the Moon
    • Navigating in Deep Space
    • Navigate in Space! Activity
  • Satellite Navigation
    • Challenges of Satellite Navigation
    • Reliable Global Navigation
    • Global Positioning System (GPS)
    • Who Uses Satellite Navigation
  • Navigation
    for Everyone
    • Meet a Professional Navigator
    • Personal Navigation Stories
  • Timeline of Innovation
  • Artifacts
  • Learning Resources
  • Multimedia Gallery
  • Research
  • Visit the Exhibition

Search form

Time and Navigation Home
Facebook Twitter YouTube Pinterest
Time and Navigation
The untold story of getting from here to there.
Home

Search form

  • Navigating at Sea
  • Navigating in the Air
  • Navigating in Space
  • Satellite Navigation
  • Navigation for Everyone
  • Timeline of Innovation
  • Artifacts
  • Learning Resources
  • Multimedia Gallery
  • Research Journal
  • Visit the Exhibition
  • Challenges of Sea Navigation
    • Navigation Gone Wrong: A British Fleet is Lost at Sea
    • Navigate at Sea! Activity
  • Navigating Without a Clock
    • Early Voyages
    • Dead Reckoning
    • Celestial Navigation
  • The Longitude Problem
    • Cash for Creativity
    • Early Sea Clock Experiments
    • Innovations in England
    • Innovations in France
    • The Chronometer
    • Observing the Skies
    • Navigation Gone Wrong: Wreck of the Arniston
  • The U.S. Goes to Sea
    • Early Contributions
      • Meet the Clockmaker: William Cranch Bond
      • Meet the Navigator: Eleanor Creesy
    • Wilkes Expedition
      • Meet the Mapmaker: Charles Wilkes
      • Maps and Charts
      • The "Scientifics"
  • Navigate at Sea! Activity

Explore More

Shell Trumpet »
Standardized Marine Chronometer »
Dolphins »
"Kalaniopuu, King of Hawaii, bringing presents to Captain Cook" »
Line of Position Navigation »
Navigation Gone Wrong

Wreck of the Arniston

Sailing without a chronometer, the Arniston crashed into reefs along the coast of South Africa and sank on May 30, 1815, killing about 340 people.

The Problem

The Arniston was a trading vessel contracted by the British Navy to bring wounded troops and civilians to England from Ceylon. The ship lacked a chronometer because the captain could not afford one, and the company that owned the ship considered them too expensive (about £100 or less). So, the Arniston depended on daily signals from the other ships in its convoy to determine longitude.

The Consequences

While sailing around the horn of Africa, the Arniston became separated from the convoy during a period of strong winds and storms. Unable to determine how far west the ship had sailed, its captain headed north before he should have and slammed into the Lagullos Reef. The crew tried to save the ship, but it broke up in the sea, killing all the passengers and all but six of the crew.

Lessons Learned

The wreck of the Arniston proved the importance of having a maritime chronometer aboard every ship, especially when sailing in dangerous waters. By 1825, all ships in the Royal Navy were equipped with them. Chronometers were supplied to American naval vessels by the early 1830s.

“In this age of science . . . it is indeed astonishing, that any ship should ever be permitted to set out on any voyage without a chronometer.”
—Captain Basil Hall, after the loss of the Arniston

arniston_map.jpg

Arniston Wreck Site
Sailing without a chronometer, the Arniston crashed into reefs along the coast of South Africa and sank on May 30, 1815, killing about 340 people.
Credit: Ashley Hornish
previous pauseresume next
  • Navigating at Sea
    • Challenges of Sea Navigation
    • Navigating Without a Clock
    • The Longitude Problem
      • Cash for Creativity
      • Early Sea Clock Experiments
      • Innovations in England
      • Innovations in France
      • The Chronometer
      • Observing the Skies
      • Navigation Gone Wrong: Wreck of the Arniston
    • The U.S. Goes to Sea
    • Navigate at Sea! Activity
  • Navigating in the Air
    • Challenges of Air Navigation
    • Early Air Navigators
    • Navigation at War
    • Navigate the Skies! Activity
  • Navigating in Space
    • Challenges of Space Navigation
    • Reaching for the Moon
    • Navigating in Deep Space
    • Navigate in Space! Activity
  • Satellite Navigation
    • Challenges of Satellite Navigation
    • Reliable Global Navigation
    • Global Positioning System (GPS)
    • Who Uses Satellite Navigation
  • Navigation for Everyone
    • Meet a Professional Navigator
    • Personal Navigation Stories
  • Timeline of Innovation
  • Artifacts
  • Learning Resources
  • Multimedia Gallery
  • Research
  • Visit the Exhibition
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Sponsors
  • Press
  • Donate
Smithsonian Logo National Air and Space Museum Home National Air and Space Museum Home National Museum of American History Home
Smithsonian
Home Facebook Twitter Google Plus Pinterest YouTube

This exhibition is a collaboration between the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of American History.

Sponsors | Contact | Terms of Use | Privacy