  Although governments across Europe had realised the need to incentivise the
development of practically viable longitude solutions as early as the
late-sixteenth century, the English government was late to the party. An sense
of urgency among the scientific community and maritime navigators led to the
establishment of a number of longitude awards by private donors. The first
private British award was bequeathed in 1691 by Thomas Axe, parish clerk of
Ottery St. Mary (Devon). Despite the absence of an expenses component and the
onerous and costly nature of its terms and conditions, the Axe prize attracted
a number of optimistic claimants. Although the award was never disbursed, it
may have contributed to the instigation of the government-supported monetary
reward associated with the British Longitude Act of 1714. It is likely that the
conditions governing the British "Longitude Prize", specifically the required
accuracy and the need for sea trials and of disclosure of a successful method's
theoretical principles, can be traced back at least in part to the Axe Prize
requirements.
