Perpetual motion machine
Date
ca.1683-1684
After
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
vol9 p457
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 304mm
width (page): 180mm
width (page): 180mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Copy of a draft by John Speed (now Ms Ashmole 1813, Bodleian Library, Oxford), originally drawn up and sent to Henry Briggs (1561-1630), professor of geometry at Gresham College on 3 June 1604 of a device of 'continual motion' by a Dutchman 'dwelling at Ipswich'. The Dutchman was the inventor Cornelis Drebbel (1572-1633), who dedicated such a machine to James I which was exhibited at the Royal Palace at Eltham.
This drawing was among the papers of John Speed's son, Dr Samuel Speed (d. 1681) of Christ Church, Oxford. It was from William Musgrave, Oxford and was shown at the meeting of the Royal Society on 14 January, 1685.
This was copied from LBO/9/342.
This drawing was among the papers of John Speed's son, Dr Samuel Speed (d. 1681) of Christ Church, Oxford. It was from William Musgrave, Oxford and was shown at the meeting of the Royal Society on 14 January, 1685.
This was copied from LBO/9/342.
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 14 January 1685, ‘In this letter of Mr. Musgrave was inclosed a paper, found in a study of Dr. Speed [according to Birch: Samuel Speed, installed Canon of Christ Church in May 1674, and vicar of Godalmin in Surrey, where he died January 22d, 1681], late of Christ-Church, Oxford, and said to have been written by his father to Mr. Briggs [Henry Briggs, professor of geometry at Gresham College, according to Birch]. It seemed to be a description of one of Cornelius Drebbel’s inventions’ (Birch 4:356). The text is printed at Birch 4:357.
Related fellows
William Musgrave (1655 - 1721, British) , Physician
Francis Aston (1644 - 1715, British) , Natural philosopher
Francis Aston (1644 - 1715, British) , Natural philosopher
Associated place