Barlow (or Barlowe), William (2)

Barlow (Or Barlowe), William (2), an English divine and eminent mathematician, was the son of William Barlow, bishop of Chichester, and was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1564. About this time he went to sea and learned much of the science of navigation. About 1573 he took holy orders, and in 1585 became prebendary of Lichfield. He was installed treasurer of Lichfield Oct. 17, 1589, and died May 25, 1625. He wrote several works on subjects connected with practical navigation, the most remarkable'of which was The Navigator's Supply (Lond. 1597). He was the first English writer on the nature and properties of the magnet, and the inventor of the compass-box as now used at sea. See Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.v.; Le Neve, Fasti, i, 582, 592.