As transoceanic travel grew in significance , so did the importance of accurate and reliable navigation at sea . Scientists and navigators had been working on the problem of measuring longitude for a long time . While determining latitude was relatively easy , early ocean navigators had to rely on dead reckoning to find longitude . This was particularly inaccurate on long voyages without sight of land and could sometimes lead to tragedy , as during the Scilly naval disaster of 1707 which claimed the lives of nearly 2,000 sailors . This brought the problem of measuring longitude at sea into sharp focus once more . Following the Merchants and Seamen Petition , which called for finding an adequate solution and was presented to Westminster Palace in May 1714 , the Longitude Act was passed in July 1714
Scilly naval disaster of 1707
Scilly naval disaster of 1707
Longitude Act