Beaufort Scale Day – May 7, 2027

History of Beaufort Scale Day

Sir Francis Beaufort was born in 1774 in Flower Hill, Meath, Ireland. Beaufort had always wanted to create accurate charts for the sea as he had met with an accident at sea due to their inaccuracy. Beaufort started his career in the navy in the British East India Company. In 1800, Beaufort was injured badly while serving on H.M.S. Phaeton. In 1810, Beaufort was appointed as Captain in the Royal British Navy. From 1811 to 1812 Beaufort went on a voyage and explored Anatolia. Anatolia, referred to as Karmania by Beaufort, was a place in Turkey with ancient ruins. It is where Hadrian’s Gate is located. In 1817, Beaufort published a book that was named “Karamania; or a brief description of the South Coast of Asia Minor, and the Remains of Antiquity”.

Beaufort had about 2,000 navigational charts that included all seas. He promoted the use of tide tables on British seas. He published the first Admiralty Tide Tablets in 1833. Beaufort developed the Beaufort Scale to measure the strength of winds using a simple system of points. Zero meant the weather was calm and 12 on the scale meant there was a hurricane. It needed no special instruments.

Beaufort took his last breath on December 17, 1857. He was buried at Hackney, London. To honor Francis Beaufort and his contribution to developing accurate charts covering the seven seas and the invention of the Beaufort scale, Beaufort Scale Day was created. People celebrate the day by remembering the genius and learning more about his inventions and works.