Place: Cartagena
Born: 1732
Death: 1795
Biography:
Vicente Tofiño de San Miguel y Van der Walle (1732-1795) was a Spanish naval officer, cartographer, and hydrographer. He was born in Cartagena, Spain, and died in Cadiz. Tofiño is best known for his work as the director of the Royal Academy of Mathematics of Cadiz, where he trained many of Spain's leading naval officers. He also served as the chief hydrographer of the Spanish Navy, and was responsible for the production of numerous maps and charts of Spanish waters. Tofiño's most famous work is the Maritime Atlas of Spain, which he completed in 1787. The atlas contains detailed charts of the entire Spanish coastline, as well as descriptions of the coasts, harbors, and bays. Tofiño's work was highly influential in the development of Spanish naval power, and his maps and charts continue to be used by navigators today.