With the study of navigation and astronomy as a major focus of the prior century, many remained dedicated to solving the issue of inconsistent longitude as many places measured it at different points. To do this, officials had to determine the best geological location for a point zero and to rationalize the measurement of time across the globe (Dolan).

The inception of the train system in the 1830s introduced a need for a stricter time system. This way rail companies could communicate across the country and run efficiently. The need for different time zones in North America also forced a stricter sense of time keeping (Dolan). The needs of geographers, navigators, and astronomers were all considered. According to Sandford Fleming, a railway engineer invested in reforming the time system, published a paper in 1879 in which he analyzed the meridians ships from around the world would use. He found that the Greenwich meridian was utilized by 65% of ships that used the main eleven meridians, making it the primary meridian. The top second and third meridians, Paris and Cadiz, were utilized by 10% and 5% respectively (Dolan). This study offered logical reasons as to why the Greenwich Meridian was a prime choice for the standard meridian.

In October 1884, U.S. President Chester Arthur invited delegates from 25 nations to meet in Washington, DC for the International Meridian Conference (The International…”). At this conference, seven resolutions were enacted:

1. “It was desirable to adopt a single world meridian to replace the numerous ones already in existence.
2. The Meridian passing through the principal Transit Instrument at the Observatory at Greenwich was to be the 'initial meridian'.
3. That all longitude would be calculated both east and west from this meridian up to 180°.
4. All countries would adopt a universal day.
5. The universal day would be a Mean Solar Day, beginning at the Mean Midnight at Greenwich and counted on a 24 hour clock.
6. That nautical and astronomical days everywhere would begin at mean midnight.
7. All technical studies to regulate and extend the application of the decimal system to the division of time and space would be supported” (The International…”).

All except France had accepted the Greenwich meridian after this conference (“History”). Progress in implementation was slow-going, especially with the transition from astronomical time to current time. However, France was the first to place a transmitter on the Eiffel Tower, taking the first step to widely disseminate time signals. To solidify a leadership role, Paris adopted Greenwich Mean Time in 1911 (Dolan).

The adoption of the Greenwich Meridian appears to be a pride point for some of those on the peninsula. For example, the Plume of Feathers, a pub that’s been around since 1961, proudly includes this in their history section, “In 1884 Greenwich’s meridian was adopted by the world as the prime meridian of the world (except the French, who continued to use the Paris one until 1911) and in that moment the Plume of Feathers became the first pub in the Eastern hemisphere (or at least one of them). And to this day it continues to serve beer and food on its original site, which now sits on the edge of the UNESCO Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site” (“History”).

Works Cited:

Dolan, Graham. “The Adoption of a Prime Meridian and the International Meridian Conference of 1884.” Greenwich Meridian, http://www.thegreenwichmeridian.org/tgm/articles.php?article=10

“History of the Plume.” The Plume of Feathers, https://plumegreenwich.com/history

“The International Meridian Conference, Washington, 1884” Greenwich Mean Time, https://greenwichmeantime.com/articles/history/conference/