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The ''Atlantic Neptune'' is a monumental four volume atlas which was the most important collection of maps, charts and views of North America published in the eighteenth century. It was created by Colonel 
Des Barres made many maps of the
The ''Atlantic Neptune'' is a monumental four volume atlas which was the most important collection of maps, charts and views of North America published in the eighteenth century. It was created by Colonel Joseph Frederick Wallet Des Barres
Joseph Frederick Wallet Des Barres (22 November 1721 or April–May 1729 – 24 or 27 October 1824) was a Canadian cartographer who served in the Seven Years' War, as the aide-de-camp to General James Wolfe. He later went on to serve as the Li ...
.
Des Barres made many maps of the Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
, mapping the coast of North America from Newfoundland to New York. His survey of the coast of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland".
Most of the population are native Eng ...
took approximately ten years due its length and intricacy. Des Barres was exasperated with the work stating "There is scarcely any known shore so much intersected with Bays, Harbours, and Creeks as this is ... and the Offing of it is so full of Islands, Rocks, and Shoals as are almost innumerable." The survey work was carried out in the summer and in the winter he would retire to his estate, Castle Frederick
A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...
, in Falmouth, Nova Scotia
Falmouth ( ) is a village located along the Avon River in Hants County between Mount Denson and Windsor in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.
History
Falmouth and area was known as Pisiquid by the Acadians. Having migrated from Port Royal (cu ...
to complete his charts and drawings. In 1774 under direction for the British Admiralty
The Admiralty was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy until 1964, historically under its titular head, the Lord High Admiral – one of the Great Officers of State. For much of it ...
, Des Barres compiled and edited his and many others' charts and maps of eastern North America. The completed work Atlantic Neptune was published in 1777, having cost the Admiralty an estimated £100,000.Jerry Lockett. Captain James Cook in Atlantic Canada. The adventurer & Map Maker's Formative Years. Formac Publishing Company Limited, Halifax, NS. 2011.p. 112. p. 187.
See also
*History of cartography
The history of cartography refers to the development and consequences of cartography, or mapmaking technology, throughout human history. Maps have been one of the most important human inventions for millennia, allowing humans to explain and navig ...
References
Further reading
* Stephen J. Hornsby, ''Surveyors of Empire: Samuel Holland, J.F.W. Des Barres, and the Making of The Atlantic Neptune.'' McGill-Queen's University Press. 2011. *Robert J, Morgan, "DesBarres the Founder" The ''Nova Scotia Historical Quarterly'', Volume 5, Number 2, 1985 *Stephen B. MacPhee, "Des Barres and His Contemporary Mapmakers" The ''Nova Scotia Historical Quarterly'', Volume 5, Number 2, 1985 *Douglas B. Foster, "Des Barres the Town Planner" The ''Nova Scotia Historical Quarterly'', Volume 5, Number 2, 1985External links
* {{Authority control Geological surveys