This biography of Nathaniel Ingersoll Bowditch is a loving tribute to a man who played a key role in the development of American science and technology. Bowditch was a mathematician and astronomer who made important contributions in the fields of navigation, surveying, and ballistics. Samuel Kirkland Lothrop's book is a fascinating look at his life and accomplishments, as well as the scientific and cultural milieu in which he worked. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.