Artist/Maker

Elford, James M. __author ||Miller, Archibald E. __Publisher ||Wright, Charles Cushing __Engraver

Place Made

Date Made

1823

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

HOA: 9 1/4″; LOA 5 1/2″

Accession Number

6006

Description

James Maud Elford (1771-1826) was born in Bristol, England, trained as a sea captain, and moved to Charleston around 1800. There, he established a store on East Bay that specialized in mathematical and navigation equipment, taught classes, and became a noted author on nautical issues. Elford’s accomplishments as a scientist include work on the mapping of South Carolina, the creation of a method for determining latitude at sea based on the location of Polaris, a formula for predicting tides at any port, and the invention of a universal maritime signal code. This volume includes a plate with that signal code. Elford and his first wife, Margaret Charlotte Gray (1774-1817), are buried at St. Michael’s Church.

RELATED OBJECTS: The MESDA collection also includes an hourglass from Elford’s shop. (Acc. 5705)

REFERENCES: James Risk, “Six Flags Over Charleston Harbor”, in The South Carolina Historical Magazine (Vol. 118, No. 2, April 2017) 132-154.

Credit Line

MESDA Purchase Fund