George W. Blunt
George William Blunt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | March 11, 1802 Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States |
| Died | April 19, 1878 (aged 76) Manhattan, New York, New York, United States |
| Occupation(s) | publisher, Office of New York Pilot Commissioner |
| Spouse | Martha Garsett |
George William Blunt (11 Mar 1802 – 19 Apr 1878) was a pioneer publisher of nautical charts and books for the company, E & G. W. Blunt. He was Secretary of the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the New York harbor from 1845-1877).[1] For over 40 years he served as first assistant in the United States Coast Survey and made surveys of the New York harbor and the Bahama banks. He was instrumental in gaining reforms in the United States Lighthouse Service. His firm published many editions of Bowditch's Navigator and Blunt's American Coast Pilot. [2] [3] [4]
Personal life
He was born on March 14, 1802 in Newburyport, Massachusetts, the son of the author Edmund March Blunt. He married Martha Garsett on December 22, 1821. They had two daughters.[5]
Nautical publisher
He and his brother, Edmund Blunt (1799-1866), went into business with their father, Edmund March Blunt, at E & G. W. Blunt Publishing, a well known publishing house of marine works. He authored many books and charts. He wrote the Memoir of the dangers and ice in the North Atlantic Ocean (1845), The Way to Avoid the Centre of Our Violent Gales (1868), and Pilot Laws, Harbor and Quarantine Regulations of New York (1869). Blunt's books were provided to the United States Hydrographic Office.
The firm closed in 1872 and sold the chart copyrights and plates to the Coast Survey and U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office.[6]
New York Pilot Commissioners
In 1845, Blunt was appointed to the Board of Commissioners of Pilots and became Secretary of the Board. He helped to organized the pilot service in New York Harbor. He was elected by the Chamber of Commerce to the New York Board of Commissioners of Pilots from 1868-1870.[7] The "Sandy-Hook Pilot's License" was issued by the Board of Commissioners of Pilots.[1]
The pilot boat, George W. Blunt, No. 11 was named after him.[8] The pilot boat Moses H. Grinnell was owned by George W. Blunt. It was built in 1850 and designed by George Steers. [1]
Nautical School for the harbor of New York
In May 1869, Blunt became a trustee of the Nautical School for the harbor of New York. Its purpose was to educate boys in seamanship and navigation.[9] He was elected again in 1871 and in 1874.[10] Ellwood Walter was also a trustee during this time and shared the same interest in seamanship and navigation.
Death
He died on April 19, 1878 in Manhattan, New York, New York, and was bureid at the Green-wood cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.[11]
References
- ^ a b c Cunliffe, Tom (2001). Pilots: Pilot, The World Of Pilotage Under Sail and Oar. Brooklin, Maine: Wooden Boat Publications.
- ^
Edmund M. Blunt. The American Coast Pilot. Edmund & George W. Blunt.
The editor renews his thanks to those mentioned in the preface to the Fourteenth Edition, and who have continued their communications. G. W. Blunt, May 1847.
- ^ John Howard Brown. Lamb's Biographical Dictionary of the United States], Volume 1.
- ^
Navy Department. Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Naval History Division (Washington) (1968). Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. 3. Navy Department, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. p. 2.
George William Blunt, born in Newburyport, Mass., 11 March 1802, 2as a pioneer publisher of nautical charts and books.
- ^ DEATH OF GEO. W. BLUNT, His Career as a Public Officer.
- ^ National Ocean Survey Historical Cartobibliography II: Age of Exploration, by National Ocean Survey. Physical Science Services Branch. Cartographic Support Section
- ^ Elventh Annual Report of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York, 1869, Page 6
- ^ NY Pilot Boat 11, the George W. Blunt
- ^ Elventh Annual Report of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York, 1869, Page 6
- ^ Annual Report of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York, 1874, Page 192
- ^ Harper's Weekly, May 11, 1878, page 369
External links
- DEATH OF GEO. W. BLUNT
- Find A Grave website
- FamilySearch website
- Dictionary of American naval fighting ships, Vol. 3, www.Worldcat.org