A System of Mathematical Education Taught at the Naval Academy in Cold Harbour Gosport Hants (established in the year 1791) under the direction of William Burney A.M. Mathematician, 1809 (approximate): Finding Aid

Biography of William Burney

William Burney, born in 1762, was an English educator and mathematician. In 1791, he founded a preparatory school, referred to alternately as the Naval Academy, Royal Academy, or Burney's Academy, in Gosport, England, directly across from the docks at Portsmouth. Among other subjects, the Academy prepared students for Royal Navy examinations. William Burney died at Gosport in 1832, after which his son, Henry Burney, took over the Academy.

In addition to his "System of Mathematical Education," and regular meteorological readings, William Burney published the following works: The Naval Heroes of Great Britain; or, Accounts of the Lives and Actions of the Distinguished Admirals and Commanders who have Contributed to Confer on Great-Britain the Empire of the Ocean, printed in London for Richard Phillips in 1806; The British Neptune, or, a History of the Achievements of the Royal Navy, from the Earliest Periods to the Present Time, printed in London for Richard Phillips in 1807; and revisions to William Falconer's A New Universal Dictionary of the Marine: Being, a Copious Explanation of the Technical Terms and Phrases Usually Employed in the Construction, Equipment, Machinery, Movements, and Military, as well as Naval, Operations of Ships, printed in London for T. Cadell and W. Davis in 1815.

Description of Contents

A System of Mathematical Education Taught at the Naval Academy in Cold Harbour Gosport Hants (established in the year 1791) under the direction of William Burney A.M. Mathematician, comprising 0.25 linear feet of documentation in a single volume of 325 leaves, was produced in approximately 1809 for the instruction of mathematics and navigation at Burney's preparatory school in Gosport, England.

The manuscript textbook contains the following sections: Arithmetic (71 pages); On Exchanges (32 pages); Geometry (84 pages); Trigonometry (15 pages); Geography (23 pages); Chronology (11 pages); Navigation (120 pages); Days Works (63 pages); problems and examples for finding latitude (28 pages); problems and examples for finding longitude (72 pages); variation of the compass (16 pages); surveying of seacoasts, islands, bays, harbors, etc. (24 pages); Fortification (52 pages); Gunnery (23 pages), and Mechanics (18 pages).

Arrangement

A System of Mathematical Education Taught at the Naval Academy in Cold Harbour Gosport Hants (established in the year 1791) under the direction of William Burney A.M. Mathematician comprises a single volume.

Access and Use

Access

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Copyright and Permission

A System of Mathematical Education Taught at the Naval Academy in Cold Harbour Gosport Hants (established in the year 1791) under the direction of William Burney A.M. Mathematician is the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1928. Accession No. 68275.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

An Autograph letter signed by Burney to Cadell & Davies, dated May 7, 1812, can be found in the holdings of the Morgan Library & Museum.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

A System of Mathematical Education Taught at the Naval Academy in Cold Harbour Gosport Hants (established in the year 1791) under the direction of William Burney A.M. Mathematician, MS 168

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:

"Obituary." The Gentleman's Magazine: and Historical Chronicle (Mar 1832): 279.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary R. Catalfamo. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in April 2020.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Burney, William, 1762-1832
• Mathematics -- Textbooks
• Naval education -- Great Britain
• Navigation -- Textbooks

Genre Terms

• Manuscripts
• Textbooks