The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-03-20
Biographical.
For TIE Cecil IFhis
JOHN CHURCiiMAN.


Perhaps your correspondent, A Far
mer' who writes from the neighborhood
of the Brick Meeting House, can fur.
nish some interesting facts in the histo-
ry of the individual whose name stands
at the head of this article, who was
born in that neighborhood previous to
the American Revolution, and who at
tracted the attention Of many learned
mer, not only in this country, but also
IN Europe, by his ingenious theory of
magnetic variation, and his application
Oft TO determine the longitude of pla-
Ces.
Several years ago, was requested by
q Literary Society TO prepare a lecture
on eminent individuals who had been
natives of Cecil county," and on ma
king an effort to collect materials from
scanty records, and feeble traditionary
light, my attention was arrested by the
following notice in a small English BIZ
ographical Dictionary: 'John Church.
man, a Quaker of Maryland, diStin-
guished for his philosophical research
es." On inquiry found an old man,
who had known him, and from him
learned that he was native Of Cecil
county, that he had seen him at Elkton
during the session of Court, soliciting
funds to carry him TO distant part ofthe
world, where he wished to be at GER
tain time, in order to make some i'm
portant observation to prove his doctrine
# at 81, Il ,,i, =
further stated, that John Churchman
died in the north of Europe, while pros
ecutng his researches, under the patron
age of the Emperor of Russia.
Whether this information was literal
ly correct, have not since learned, but
from the report of Committee in Con-
gress in 1889, it appeared that he had
solicited the assistance of government
in making voyage to Bafin's Bay.
The following is the report of the com
mittee, by Mr.. Tucker: "The commit
Tee has conferred with Mr.. Churchman,
and find he has made many calcula-
tons, which tend to establish his posi-.
ton, that there are two magnetic points,
which give direction to the needle.
That, upon his doctrine, he has endeav-
ored to ascertain, from given latitude,
and given variation, what must be the
longitude of the place, and having APP
piled his principles to many instances
in Cookies voyages, has found the re-
suit to correspond with considerable &C
curacy, with the real facts, as far as they
could be ascertained from the reckon
ing of the ship. That the object to
which Mr.. Churchman's labors are d
rected, is confessedly, of very high i'm
portance; and his ideas on the subject
appear to be ingenious. That, with the
view of applying them to practice, he
has contrived map and globe, here
by to show the angles which are made
by the intersection of the real and mag
netc merdians, in different parts of the
earth. That he is also engaged in con-
structlng tables, for determining the
longitude at sea upon magnetic princi-
Piles. n n. With respect to
the voyage proposed by Mr.. Church
man to Bafiin's Bay, the Committee are
cautious of recommending IN the pres
ent deranged state of our finances, a
precipitate adoption of measure, which
would be attended with considerable ex-
pense: But they are of opinion, that,
at future day, if Mr.. Churchman'S
principles should be found to succeed in
practice, it would be proper to give fur
Their encouragement to his ingenuity"
This cautiousness of the Committee,
is characteristic of our government, and
men of fortune. Genius must work its