Cook's Chronometer, K1, the first copy of H4, by Larcum Kendall of London, 1769.

Cook's Chronometer, K1, the first copy of H4, by Larcum Kendall of London, 1769. © National Maritime Museum, London

Repro ID: C9303_1

Description: K1 was a copy of H4 made by Kendall for £500, at the request of the Board of Longtitude to make sure that H4 could be reproduced by other watchmakers. It was issued to Captain James Cook on his second and third voyages of discovery to the South Seas in 1772-75 and 1776-79 in order to try out its effectiveness. At first Cook was a little sceptical but the watch behaved so well he learned to trust it, referring to it in his log as his 'never failing guide'. It was thus K1 that proved to a doubting scientific establishment that H4's success was no fluke.

Creator: Larcum Kendall

Date: 1769

Credit line: National Maritime Museum, London