Longitude Lane, a

Longitude Lane, a

c. 1956-1957

11/22/2016 (date digital)

Back of photograph: "(c) Henry P. Staats / Longitude Lane" Longitude Lane was an alley established during the colonial period of Charleston's development. Prior to its official naming in May of 1762, Longitude Lane was simply known as a "neighborhood alley." The alley connected East Bay and Church streets leaving much space for development. Many of the homes built around this area are associated with the Russell-Dehon families. Colonial Governor of Carolina from 1693-1694, Thomas Smith had a home built in the same vicinity in the 17th century. It could be suggested from the timing of the naming of Longitude Lane that it had much to do with the establishment of a way to accurately measure longitude that same year. Inspired by the Longitude Act of 1714, and subsequent bounty provided by the Board of Longitude, John Harrison, a carpenter and clock-maker, created a marine chronometer or "sea watch" in the mid 18th century that correctly measured incredibly long distances, known as the H4. There is a direct relationship between longitude and time, but there was no appropriate way to measure it from the location of a ship prior to this period. The H4 was his fourth and accurate attempt at a marine clock that could be used as a reference tool for measuring Longitude. William Henry Lyttleton, governor of Carolina, from 1755-1760, and governor of Jamaica from 1760-1766, vouched for the accuracy of Harrison's clock. It is suspected that the connection of Lyttleton to the Carolinas as well his governorship of Jamaica at the time of the experiment has more than a little to do with the name of Longitude Lane.

visible image 12 x 12 cm

Donated to CLS by Henry P. Staats.

Vories, Dylan (digital assistant)

This item is in copyright but can be used for educational purposes. Please contact Charleston Library Society for more information for any use not qualifying as educational use.

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Hinson Audio/Visual Collection

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