A chart of the world on Mercator projection, released in January 1790, established Aaron Arrowsmith as a significant figure in British cartography. Relocating from Winston to London around the age of twenty, he trained under engravers John Cary and William Faden before building his own reputation as a printer, bookseller, and publisher of detailed geographic records.
Early Career and Geographic Innovation
Arrowsmith refined his craft in Soho Square, working for established engravers before achieving individual success. In 1794, he published a large world map utilizing a globular projection. While sometimes incorrectly referred to as Arrowsmith's projection, this method was originally developed by Giovan Battista Nicolosi in 1660. Arrowsmith's cartographic output was marked by rigorous updates, with his map of North America appearing in 1796 and his map of Scotland in 1807. These works became benchmarks for the geography of the era.
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His expertise earned him prestigious royal recognition, serving as hydrographer to the Prince of Wales around 1810 and to the king in 1820. Beyond his independent charts, he organized the map volumes for Rees's Cyclopædia between 1802 and 1819. In 1804, he collaborated with Samuel Lewis of Philadelphia to produce the New and elegant General Atlas, which compiled contemporary discoveries. This volume saw subsequent printings in 1805, 1812, and 1819.
Legacy and Family Business
The Arrowsmith firm expanded its reach through collaborative work. He partnered with his nephew, John Arrowsmith, to refine data acquired from the Hudson's Bay Company, resulting in a comprehensive 1821 map of North America. His sons, Aaron Arrowsmith Jr. and Samuel Arrowsmith, continued the family tradition as geographers and compilers of atlases. The family's contributions were later acknowledged through the naming of Mount Arrowsmith on Vancouver Island. Aaron Arrowsmith Sr. died in London in 1823.
Fast facts
- Born: 1750, Winston
- Died: 1823, London
- Occupations: Printer, geographer, bookseller, cartographer, publisher
- Citizenship: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Notable 1790 work: Chart of the world on Mercator projection
- Royal roles: Hydrographer to the Prince of Wales, hydrographer to the king
- Geographic legacy: Mount Arrowsmith, Vancouver Island
Questions readers ask
What was the connection between Arrowsmith and the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
Meriwether Lewis studied Arrowsmith's 1802 map of North America extensively before departing on his expedition.
Did Arrowsmith invent his own map projection?
No, while he used the globular projection starting in 1794, it was originally invented by Giovan Battista Nicolosi in 1660.
Achievements
- Recorded as cartographer, publisher and printer
