This was the first time anyone had proposed multiple time zones for any country.
But Dowds suggestions were mostly ignored.
Ironically, Dowd died underneath the wheels of a locomotive in 1904.
He suggested using the Greenwich meridian over Washingtons.
Greenwich Observatory, London.
Others also voiced their discontent.
Astronomers in Bologna wanted the prime meridian to be placed in Jerusalem.
Eventually, the International Meridian Conference met in Venice in 1881 to decide on these issues.
This left only the observatories at Paris, Berlin, Greenwich and Washington as the suitable candidates.
A marker for the Paris Meridian, circa 1890.
Photo:Morphart Creation/Shutterstock.com
A few delegates disagreed.
Eventually, France and Brazil abstained from voting and San Domingo voted against.
France was not the only one opposing.
As France clung to the Paris meridian, a death blow was dealt from within.
The medallions are spread over a distance of 9 km between the northern and southern limits of Paris.
Each medallion is 12 cm in diameter and marked with the name ARAGO along with N and S pointers.
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The Paris Meridian marked across the grass outside the observatory.
