Martín Cortés de Albacar
Encyclopedia
Martín Cortés de Albacar (1510–1582) was a Spanish cosmographer. In 1551 he published the standard navigitional textbook Arte de navigar (also known as Breve compendio)
Cortés was born in Bujaraloz
, province of Zaragoza, Aragon. From 1530, in Cádiz, he taught cosmography and the art of navigation to pilots.
who had it translated into English by Richard Eden
and published in 1561 entitled The Arte of Navigation. As such it became the first English manual of navigation and the primary text for European navigation throughout the early 17thC, enjoyed by such as Martin Frobisher
and Francis Drake
.
Arte de navigar was a practical book in which Cortés discussed, in a concise manner, navigation, cosmography and problems such as magnetic declination
for which he hypothesised a Celestial magnetic pole
.
He included many illustrations and models for making instruments. and the text contained the earliest known description of the Nocturnal
and how to make and use a sea astrolabe
Cortés' calculations were critical in allowing explorers to ascertain their location when out of sight of land.
In 1574, the mathematican, William Bourne, produced a popular version of the book, entitled A Regiment for the Sea. Bourne was critical of some aspects of Arte de Navegar and produced a manual of more practical use to the seaman.
He died aged 72.
Cortés was born in Bujaraloz
Bujaraloz
Bujaraloz is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 1,002 inhabitants.- External links :*....
, province of Zaragoza, Aragon. From 1530, in Cádiz, he taught cosmography and the art of navigation to pilots.
Arte of Navigation
Cortés' book, Breve compendio,...Arte de navigar was promoted by Steven BoroughSteven Borough
Steven Borough , English navigator, was born at Northam, Devon.In 1553 he took part in the expedition which was dispatched from the Thames under Sir Hugh Willoughby to look for a northern passage to Cathay and India, serving as master of the Edward Bonaventure, on which Richard Chancellor sailed as...
who had it translated into English by Richard Eden
Richard Eden
Richard Eden was an alchemist and translator. His translations of the geographic works of other writers helped foster a spirit of overseas exploration in Tudor England.-Early life:...
and published in 1561 entitled The Arte of Navigation. As such it became the first English manual of navigation and the primary text for European navigation throughout the early 17thC, enjoyed by such as Martin Frobisher
Martin Frobisher
Sir Martin Frobisher was an English seaman who made three voyages to the New World to look for the Northwest Passage...
and Francis Drake
Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He also carried out the...
.
Arte de navigar was a practical book in which Cortés discussed, in a concise manner, navigation, cosmography and problems such as magnetic declination
Magnetic declination
Magnetic declination is the angle between magnetic north and true north. The declination is positive when the magnetic north is east of true north. The term magnetic variation is a synonym, and is more often used in navigation...
for which he hypothesised a Celestial magnetic pole
Celestial pole
The north and south celestial poles are the two imaginary points in the sky where the Earth's axis of rotation, indefinitely extended, intersects the imaginary rotating sphere of stars called the celestial sphere...
.
He included many illustrations and models for making instruments. and the text contained the earliest known description of the Nocturnal
Nocturnal (instrument)
A nocturnal is an instrument used to determine the time based on the position of a certain star in the night sky. Sometimes called a "horologium nocturnum" or nocturlabe , it is closely related to the sun dial. A nocturnal is typically a navigational instrument...
and how to make and use a sea astrolabe
Cortés' calculations were critical in allowing explorers to ascertain their location when out of sight of land.
In 1574, the mathematican, William Bourne, produced a popular version of the book, entitled A Regiment for the Sea. Bourne was critical of some aspects of Arte de Navegar and produced a manual of more practical use to the seaman.
He died aged 72.