GODFREY, THOMAS, was born in the city of Philadelphia, where be carried on the business of a glazier. His attention having been accidentally directed to the study of mathematics, he seems to have devoted himself to it with great ardour and perseverance ; and in order that he might read the Principia ' and other mathematical works written in Latin, instructed himself in that language. James Logan, who had some reputation as a mathematician, having treated him with kindness and lent him books, he presented to that gentle Iran in 1730 a paper describing an Improvement of the quadrant. In 1732 Logan wrote a letter to Dr. Halley, in which he gave an account of Godfrey's invention, but no answer was returned. Meantime, in 1731, Mr. Hadley had communicated to the Royal Society of London a paper in which lie described an improvement of the quadrant similar to that of Godfrey. The claims of both parties were afterwards investigated by the Royal Society, and it was decided that they were both entitled to the honour of the invention. The value of 200/. was
sent to Godfrey by the Royal Society, not in mopey, but in furniture, on account of his intemperate habits. The instrument however is still known'hy the name of liadley's quadrant. Dr. Benjamin Franklin says—" I continued to board with Godfrey, who lived in part of any house with his wife and children, and had one side of the shop for his glazier's business, though he worked but little, being always absorbed in mathematics." He died in 1749.
Godfrey had a son, Thomas, who died in his 27th year. Ile wrote some poems, and is distinguished as the author of the first drama written by an American ; it is a tragedy, called ' The Prince of Parthis.' (Encyclopedia Americana)