First Edition of “A New Table of Latitude and Departure,” Authored by Meriwether Lewis’s Mentor for the Expedition, Who Was Also Director of the U.S. Mint and Head of the Philosophical Society

Worldcat and ESTC list two surviving copies of the this work, one at the New York Public Library and the other at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. There is no record of any copy of this book ever having reached the market. This copy was obtained from the Patterson descendants and has never been offered for sale before.

The American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia was the hub of knowledge and its pursuit in the early United States. Among its early members were America’s most prominent scientists of the time, including Thomas Jefferson, and Robert Patterson, early mathematician and perhaps the preeminent astronomer of his generation. Both served in leadership of the Society for a period, and both were among a select few to prepare Meriwether Lewis for his expedition.

In 1779, after the College and Academy of Philadelphia were reorganized into the University of Pennsylvania, Patterson successfully applied to John Ewing, the Provost, for employment as Professor of Mathematics. Patterson was Professor of Mathematics from 1779 to 1810, Professor of Natural Philosophy and Mathematics from 1810 to 1813 and Vice-Provost from 1810 to 1813. Because he performed his official duties with integrity, industry and ability, also rendering essential services to the University, he was granted an honorary Master of Arts in 1788 and an honorary Doctor of Laws in 1819. After presenting his resignation in 1814, Patterson was succeeded as Professor of Mathematics as well as Vice-Provost by his son, Robert M. Patterson.

In 1783, Patterson was elected to the American Philosophical Society and was an active member for many years. He became the society’s secretary in 1784, its vice president in 1799 and its president in 1819, succeeding Benjamin Franklin, David Rittenhouse, Thomas Jefferson and Caspar Wistar in this last position. Patterson was also one of five members of the American Philosophical Society chosen by Jefferson to assist and instruct Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in preparation for their expedition into the Pacific Northwest. It was to Patterson that Jefferson turned to help Lewis with navigation and the fixing of his location, setting latitude and longitude.

The book “A New Table of Latitude and Departure;” first edition, Stewart & Cochran, no. 34, South Second Street, Philadelphia: Robert Patterson, 1794. Approximately 4×6 inches, in the original wrappers. It came to us directly from the descendants of the author, and has not been seen outside the family in anyone’s recollection.

“For every degree and five minutes of the quadrant, and for every point and quarter of the compass: with a full explanation, and exemplification of its use in the various cases of plane trigonometry, surveying, navigation, practical astronomy and dialing. / By R. Patterson, professor of mathematics, in the University of Pennsylvania.”

Worldcat and ESTC list two surviving copies of the this work, one at the New York Public Library and the other at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. There is no record of any copy of this book ever having reached the market. This copy has never before been offered for sale.

Patterson corresponded often with Jefferson, who, in 1805, appointed him to the directorship of the United States Mint, a position he held until his death. Patterson was also a member of the Select Council of Philadelphia and served as its president in 1799. Just before his death, he helped found the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, and served as the first chairman of its board of managers.