John Rowley John Rowley was one of the foremost English mechanicians of his time. He enjoyed the patronage of the Prince George of Denmark and Norway, is credited with the invention of the orrery and was appointed Master of Mechanics to King George I.[1] He is best known for creating ornate and innovative ring dials, such as the large Universal Equinoctial Ring Dial, made around 1710 (coming soon to Clocktime).[2] Rowley grew up in Lichfield, Staffordshire, and was the son of a sword cutter. In 1682, he was apprenticed to instrument maker Joseph Howe of London, and, in 1690 or 1691, he obtained his freedom from the Broderers’ Company (the embroiderers’ guild). In 1690, he also went into business for himself, setting up his workshop on Threadneedle Street in London. Soon after, he opened his shop, The Globe, on Fleet Street – the premier address for London’s established instrument makers and clockmakers. Early in his career, Rowley’s work caught the eye of Prince George of Denmark and Norway (husband to the future Queen Anne I, the first monarch to reign over Great Britain and Ireland). The Prince commissioned Rowley’s most well known instrument: an ornate universal ring now at the Whipple Museum of the History of Science in Cambridge (Inventory No. 676). Some insight can be gained into the nature of Rowley’s relationship with his patron thanks to the survival of a letter, now in the British Library, which records the Prince’s order to Rowley for a case of silver mathematical instruments. Also, Sir Richard Steele describes Rowley as ‘Gentleman Usher to the Prince’, and goes on to say that His late Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark honoured Mr Rowley with his notice; and had it pleased God to have spared the life that excellent Man [the Prince] … this artist [Rowley] would not at this day have wanted one who would have esteemed and favoured him according to his merit. Despite the death of his patron in 1708, Rowley became one of the leading London mechanicians. In 1715, he was appointed Master of Mechanics to King George I. Rowley also supplied instruments to the Board of Ordinance. Upon visiting Rowley in 1710, travelogue writer Zacharias von Uffenbach is documented as having said that the instrument maker was ‘considered one of the best mechanicians in England’. Rowley arguably set the standard for the design of the equinoctial ring – a design that was used by subsequent instrument makers such as Richard Glynne. He retained his royal position until George I’s death in 1727, and died one year later, in 1728. He is buried in St Dunstan’s churchyard, London. End Notes [1] Appleby 1996; Brown 1979. [2] Carter 2022, 232–233, Catalogue No. 34; Clifton 1995, 238–239; Milburn 1992, 3–5. References Appleby, J. H. 1996. ‘A new perspective on John Rowley, virtuoso master of mechanics and hydraulic engineer’ in Annals of Science 53: 1–27. Brown, J. 1979. Mathematical Instrument-makers in the Grocers’ Company, 1688–1800. London: Science Museum. Carter, J. 2022. The John C Taylor Collection: Part III (Selling Exhibition Catalogue, Carter Marsh & Co). Winchester: Carter Marsh & Co. Clifton, G. and G. L’Estrange Turner. 1995. Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550–1851. London: National Maritime Museum. Milburn, J. R. 1992. ‘John Rowley’s gunnery instruments’ in Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society 32: 3–5. Image Credits John Rowley, universal equinoctial ring dial. Courtesy of Carter Marsh & Co. Photography by Andy Green. Orrery made by John Rowley for the Earl of Orrery. 1712. Object number: 1952-73. Science Museum Group Collection © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co56970/orrery-made-by-john-rowley-for-the-earl-of-orrery-demonstration-models-orreries-planetaria-models
