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Longitude Act

A detailed navigational instrument with a compass-like design and intricate markings is illuminated by a warm light, symbolizing the Longitude Act's quest for precision in maritime navigation.

An Act of the British Parliament passed in July 1714 offering a tiered prize — up to £20,000 — for a practical method of determining a ship's longitude at sea. It established the Board of Longitude to evaluate proposals. The Act remained in force for more than a century and effectively created the world's first state-funded research-and-development competition.

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