After the successful journey of H4, Harrison demanded the prize money. The Board,
however, were unwilling to grant the money until Harrison gave them the
diagrams to his final chronometer and proof that H4 could be reproduced.
Harrison refused until he was granted the entire sum. It took backing from King George III
to finally receive a lump sum of 8,075 pounds in 1773. In total, Harrison
received 23,065 pounds over his entire span of working for the Board,
making him a wealthy man by the end of this life and until his death in 1776.
The H4 was monumental in navigation. The famous Captain James Cook used
a replica of the H4 for his second and third voyages with great success. Sailors
used marine chronometers similar to Harrison's design for years. Even today,
with all the advances in technology, chronometers are still very similar to Harrison's H4.
Harrison dedicated his life to making an accurate time piece, and it has
provided civilization with better maps, safer and more accurate navigation,
and, most obviously, an extremely accurate way to measure time. It shows that
even with little schooling, with proper dedication and perseverance, anyone can
create something great.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e3/John_Harrison_memorial_02.jpg
Memorial to Harrison in Westminster Abbey
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