John Speed

(active in the early 17th century)

John Speed (1550s – 1629) was the most famous English cartographer and the key name in the history of English map making of the early modern period.

Though it was the art of cartography that became John Speed’s craft and calling, he started off as a hereditary tailor, following in his father’s footsteps. In addition to tailoring, he was a member of a corresponding guild in London. Speed had always been passionate about research and studies, and after having received an allowance from noble scholars, he was able to leave his manual labour and dedicate all his attention to cartography.

Thanks to his outstanding pictorial sense, John Speed was soon recognized as a highly talented scholar. Though he was both a historian and a cartographer, and conducted many theoretical studies, he is mainly renowned as Britain’s most important and prolific map maker. Speed’s earlier achievements and success in the tailoring business were noticed and encouraged by Queen Elizabeth, Her Majesty rewarded the studious craftsman by allowing him to use a room in the Custom House. Along with independent county maps, Speed published several major works, mainly atlases, The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine (1612), and the Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World (1627).

The maps created by the talented artist have always been regarded as true masterpieces: not only did Speed do a great job collecting the materials, but he also managed to depict the visual facades of each location in his very own distinct manner. When creating maps, he paid attention to the slightest detail and nuances and scrupulously tracked the process of the making. A special technology of printing was used: copper details were engraved on copper plates in reverse, so that writing would be put on the map in the right direction.