Lectures in Navigation

by Ernest Gallaudet Draper

"Lectures in Navigation" by Ernest Gallaudet Draper is a scientific publication likely written in the early 20th century. This work has been designed as a textbook for training individuals in the fundamentals of navigation, particularly for junior officers in the United States Naval Auxiliary Reserve. The content primarily covers essential topics related to navigation such as the use of a compass, celestial navigation, and various instruments like sextants and charts that are used in maritime navigation. The opening of the book presents a foreword and a preface that set the context for the lectures. Draper explains the purpose of the lectures—to provide a comprehensible guide for the officers to learn navigation quickly and effectively. He outlines the intended structure of the course, mentioning areas of study like piloting, dead reckoning, celestial navigation, and the practical exercises that will accompany the theoretical instruction. The introduction reveals a collaborative effort, with acknowledgments to contributors and references to key navigational texts, highlighting the educational value and practical application the book aims to achieve in helping officers master the complexities of navigation.