A GENERAL MAP OF NORTH AMERICA, 1761

By John Rocque

This reproduction is taken from an original document, held within the Archives of the UK Hydrographic Office, Taunton, Somerset.

John Rocque was a notable exponent of the art of map-making who came to prominence in England during the middle part of the 18th century. He was descended from a Huguenot family who left France and emigrated to England to avoid religious persecution. He is best known for his large scale plan of London, published in 1746, and a number of town plans and county maps of England and Ireland. The rarest of his publications was an atlas of North America that was published by his wife Mary, shortly after his death.

This map is an excellent example of Rocque's attention to detail. It documents a host of information concerning the native tribes of the continent, the peoples of the Caribbean Islands, the prevailing weather in the region and the extent of the territories of the colonial powers. The map is extremely decorative and accurately records the extent of geographical knowledge at that time.