Re: Extension Deadline
Originally Posted by
Solasch
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Jbr, calm down. Percy was referring to the situation of around 1900, more than century ago. I think that by now the french have forgiven the brits for snatching the prime meridean from them, or are they just as hot-tempered as you?
Actually, the meridian was promulgated in 1676 when the Royal Observatory was completed - it had been designed by Sir Christopher Wren and the first Astronomer Royal was John Flamsteed. Greenwich became the meridian after the passing of the 1714 Longitude Act which offered a reward for any person who could reliably calculate longitude which, as a seafaring nation, was very important. It was accepted as the prime meridian in 1851 and recognised as the world's prime meridian in 1884.
Something else the world owes the British for.