This compass was made by the company of Janet Taylor between 1845 and 1875. 

 

Taylor was a 19th-century inventor who used her genius in astronomy, maths and navigation to change the world.

 

Among her successes, she proved the shape of the Earth and wrote books on how this made maritime navigation more accurate.

 

Taylor founded academies to teach sailors about her work. She was one of the first UK women to patent an invention.

 

Her advances made sea travel safer and more sustainable, which changed many sailor’s lives for the better.

 

It also meant the British could exploit overseas peoples and countries more effectively.