John William Norie

Who was John William Norie?

John William Norie, was a mathematician, hydrographer, chart maker and publisher of nautical books most famous for his Epitome of Practical Navigation which became a standard work on navigation and went through many editions as did many of Norie's works.

Norie began his career working with William Heather, who had in 1765 taken over chart publishers Mount and Page and who ran the Naval Academy and Naval Warehouse in Leadenhall Street from 1795; the Naval Warehouse provided navigational instruments, charts, and books on navigation. Norie took over the Naval Warehouse after Heather's retirement and founded the company J.W. Norie and Company in 1813. After Norie's death the company became Norie and Wilson, then in 1903 Imray, Laurie, Norie & Wilson.

Charles Dickens later used the Naval Warehouse in Dombey and Son.