Jonathan Betts
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Betts is Senior Specialist in horology at the Royal Observatory
(National Maritime Museum
), Greenwich, a horological scholar and author, and an expert on the first marine timekeepers
created by John Harrison
in the middle of the 18th century.
From a family of retail watchmakers and jewellers, he took the British Horological Institute
finals in technical horology in 1975 he was awarded the Tremayne National Prize for Practical Watchmaking. For the following five years, he practised as a self-employed horology conservator. In 1980 he was appointed Senior Horology Conservator at the National Maritime Museum and in 1989 was presented the museum's Callender Award for his contribution to horological conservation. He was appointed Curator of Horology in 1990 and became Senior Specialist in 2001.
He is the biographer of Rupert Gould
, the restorer of the Harrison timekeepers. The biography was published in 2006 by Oxford University Press
under the title Time Restored: The Harrison Timekeepers and RT Gould, the Man Who Knew (Almost) Everything.
In 2002 he was awarded the Clockmakers' Company's Harrison Gold Medal and the British Horological Institute
's Barett Medal in 2008, and is a Huntington Fellow at the Mariners Museum, Newport News, Virginia. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, of the British Horological Institute
, and of the International Institute of Conservation.
He lives in Greenwich
.
Royal Observatory, Greenwich
The Royal Observatory, Greenwich , in London, England played a major role in the history of astronomy and navigation, and is best known as the location of the prime meridian...
(National Maritime Museum
National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it also incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich,...
), Greenwich, a horological scholar and author, and an expert on the first marine timekeepers
Marine chronometer
A marine chronometer is a clock that is precise and accurate enough to be used as a portable time standard; it can therefore be used to determine longitude by means of celestial navigation...
created by John Harrison
John Harrison
John Harrison was a self-educated English clockmaker. He invented the marine chronometer, a long-sought device in solving the problem of establishing the East-West position or longitude of a ship at sea, thus revolutionising and extending the possibility of safe long distance sea travel in the Age...
in the middle of the 18th century.
From a family of retail watchmakers and jewellers, he took the British Horological Institute
British Horological Institute
The British Horological Institute is the representative body of the horological industry in the United Kingdom.-History:...
finals in technical horology in 1975 he was awarded the Tremayne National Prize for Practical Watchmaking. For the following five years, he practised as a self-employed horology conservator. In 1980 he was appointed Senior Horology Conservator at the National Maritime Museum and in 1989 was presented the museum's Callender Award for his contribution to horological conservation. He was appointed Curator of Horology in 1990 and became Senior Specialist in 2001.
He is the biographer of Rupert Gould
Rupert Gould
Rupert Thomas Gould , was a Lieutenant Commander in the British Royal Navy noted for his contributions to horology .-Life:...
, the restorer of the Harrison timekeepers. The biography was published in 2006 by Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
under the title Time Restored: The Harrison Timekeepers and RT Gould, the Man Who Knew (Almost) Everything.
In 2002 he was awarded the Clockmakers' Company's Harrison Gold Medal and the British Horological Institute
British Horological Institute
The British Horological Institute is the representative body of the horological industry in the United Kingdom.-History:...
's Barett Medal in 2008, and is a Huntington Fellow at the Mariners Museum, Newport News, Virginia. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, of the British Horological Institute
British Horological Institute
The British Horological Institute is the representative body of the horological industry in the United Kingdom.-History:...
, and of the International Institute of Conservation.
He lives in Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
.