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(Chart of Boston Harbor and the surrounding area)
Des Barres, Joseph F. W...
(Chart of Boston Harbor...
1775
10278.000
Related
 
Author
Des Barres, Joseph F. W. (Joseph Frederick Wallet), 1722-1824
Full Title
(Chart of Boston Harbor and the surrounding area)
List No
10278.000
Note
"De Barres' remarkable chart of Boston Harbor is a highly important Revolutionary War map depicting details relating to the Siege of Boston. This is one the most important maps contained in Des Barres' Atlantic Neptune, and one of the most significant maps of the Revolutionary War. The map provides a meticulous record of Boston at the beginning of the war, covering the area from the environs of the city out into the open waters of Massachusetts Bay. The map is a working sea-chart, focused upon features such as depth soundings, indicated by detailed lines and based on surveys by Samuel Holland and George Callendar, and the navigable channels between the harbor's numerous shoals, which are delicately outlined in stipple-engraving. Holland's original manuscript map is today preserved in the British Hydrographic Library at Taunton, Somerset. The present map shows the city of Boston, with its streets carefully outlined, occupying a pear-shaped peninsula, a position that would soon prove precarious to its British defenders in the escalating conflict. Joseph Frederick Wallet Des Barres was born in Switzerland, where his Huguenot ancestors had fled following the repeal of the Edict of Nantes. He studied under the great mathematician Daniel Bernoulli at the University of Basel, before immigrating to Britain, where he trained at the Royal Military College, Woolwich. Upon the outbreak of hostilities with France in 1756, he joined the British Royal American Regiment as a military engineer. He came to the attention of General James Wolfe, who appointed him to join his personal detail. During this period he also worked with the legendary future explorer James Cook on a monumental chart of the St. Lawrence River. Upon the conclusion of the Seven Years War, Britain's empire in North America was greatly expanded, and this required the creation of a master atlas featuring new and accurate sea charts for use by the Royal Navy. Des Barres was enlisted to survey the coastlines of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. With these extremely accurate surveys in hand, Des Barres returned to London in 1774, where the Royal Navy charged him with the Herculean task of producing the atlas. He was gradually forwarded the manuscripts of numerous advanced surveys conducted by British cartographers in the American Colonies, Jamaica and Cuba, of which the present map is based on the work of Samuel Holland, conducted in the 1760s. The result was The Atlantic Neptune, which became the most celebrated sea atlas of its era, containing the first systematic survey of the east coast of North America. Des Barres's synergy of great empirical accuracy with the peerless artistic virtue of his aquatint views, created a work that "has been described as the most splendid collection of charts, plates and views ever published" ( National Maritime Museum Catalogue). ' The Neptune eventually consisted of four volumes and Des Barres's dedication to the project was so strong that often at his own expense he continually updated and added new charts and views to various editions up until 1784, producing over 250 charts and views, many appearing in several variations. All of these charts were immensely detailed, featuring both hydrographical and topographical information, such that in many cases they remained the most authoritative maps of the regions covered for several decades. Following the completion of The Neptune, Des Barres returned to Canada, where he remained for a further forty years, becoming a senior political figure and a wealthy land owner, living to the advanced age of 103." Ruderman.
Plate 72 from Vol. 2: Boston
Luffman, John, 1756-184...
Plate 72 from Vol. 2: B...
1802
13189.156
Related
 
Author
Luffman, John, 1756-1846
Full Title
Boston. Engraved for Luffman's Select plans. Engrav'd & Publish'd March 1.1802, by J. Luffman. London.
List No
13189.156
Note
Hand colored city map. Shows Boston Harbor, small islands, and towns. Prime meridian is London. Includes text at the foot of map.
Sketch of the Action on the Heights of Charlestown.
Melish, John
Sketch of the Action on...
1824
2803.026
Related
 
Author
Melish, John
Full Title
Sketch of the Action on the Heights of Charlestown (Boston), June 17th 1775, between His Majesty's Troops, under the command of Genl. Howe, and a large body of American Rebels. Copied by I.A. Chapman, from an original Sketch, taken by Henry De Berniere of the 14th Regiment of Infantry, now in the hands of J. Cist Esq. Engraved by Kneass, Young & Co. for the Analeche Magazine. Published by M. Thomas Philada. (1824)
List No
2803.026
Note
Engraved. Detailed battle references keyed to the map. Relief shown by wavy hachures. Swamps, breastworks, structures, roads, and troop positions shown.
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