John Speed

Place: Farndon

Born: 1551

Death: 1629

Biography:

John Speed was an English cartographer, chronologer, and historian of Cheshire origins. He is among the most famous of English mapmakers. Born in 1551 or 1552, Speed rose from his family occupation to accept the task of drawing together and revising the histories, topographies, and maps of the Kingdoms of Great Britain.

Early Life and Family

According to his daughter Sarah Blackmore, John Speed was born in the Cheshire village of Farndon. His father, John Speed, gained the freedom of the Company of Merchant Taylrs of London in April 1556. Speed followed in his father's mercantile business in London and obtained the freedom of the Merchant Taylrs' Company by patrimony in 1580. He married Susanna, daughter of Thomas Draper of London, in 1571 or 1572, and began to raise a family.

Patronage and Work

Speed came to the attention of learned individuals, including Sir Fulke Greville, who made him an allowance to enable him to devote his whole attention to research. In around 1590, Speed was working with the Puritan scholar Hugh Broughton, developing their work on the genealogies of Jesus Christ. By 1595, he published a map of biblical Canaan, and in 1598, he presented his maps to Queen Elizabeth. As a reward for these efforts, Elizabeth granted Speed the position of a Waiter (a customs officer). John Speed was a scholar with a highly developed pictorial faculty. In 1600, he presented three maps of his own making to the Merchant Taylrs, who hung them in their Hall or Parlour and made provision for them to be protected by curtains.

Notable Works

Speed's work helped to define early modern concepts of British national identity. His Biblical genealogies were also formally associated with the first edition of the King James Bible. He drew upon and improved the shire maps of Christopher Saxton, John Norden, and others, being the first to incorporate the hundred-boundaries into them.

• John Speed is among the most famous of English mapmakers.
• His work helped to define early modern concepts of British national identity.
• He drew upon and improved the shire maps of Christopher Saxton, John Norden, and others.
• His Biblical genealogies were formally associated with the first edition of the King James Bible.

works by Speed can be found on https://Wikioo.org/@/John-Speed, where you can learn more about his life and work. You can also find information on John Speed on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Speed. In conclusion, John Speed was a renowned cartographer and historian who played a significant role in shaping the concept of British national identity. His work continues to be celebrated and studied by scholars and art enthusiasts alike.