author
Gershom Bradford
1879–1978
A lifelong mariner and nautical writer, he turned deep practical knowledge of ships and seamanship into books that made sea language and sea lore easier for general readers to enjoy.
1 Audiobook
The whys and wherefores of navigation
by Gershom Bradford
About the author
Born in Kingston, Massachusetts, in 1879, Gershom Bradford built his career around the sea. He worked as a nautical expert for the Hydrographic Office of the United States Navy, and sources also connect him with teaching navigation and seamanship.
Bradford wrote widely about maritime life, blending reference work with storytelling. He is best known for books such as The Mariner's Dictionary and The Secret of Mary Celeste, and Other Sea Fare, and his writing shows a lasting interest in ships, sailors, and the language of the sea.
He lived a long life that stretched nearly a century, dying in Washington, D.C., in 1978. For readers drawn to nautical history, his work offers the voice of someone who knew the subject from the inside and enjoyed sharing its details with others.