Andrew Ellicott (January 24, 1754 – August 28, 1820) was an American

land surveyor Surveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, art, and science of determining the terrestrial two-dimensional or three-dimensional positions of points and the distances and angles between them. A land surveying professional is c ...

who helped map many of the territories west of the

Appalachians The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. They ...

, surveyed the boundaries of the

District of Columbia ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, continued and completed Pierre (Peter) Charles L'Enfant's work on the plan for

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, and served as a teacher in survey methods for Meriwether Lewis.

Early life

Andrew Ellicott was born in Buckingham Township,

Bucks County Bucks County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 646,538, making it the fourth-most populous county in Pennsylvania. Its county seat is Doylestown. The county is named after the English ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

as the first of nine children of

Joseph Ellicott Joseph Ellicott (November 1, 1760 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania – August 19, 1826 in New York City) was an American surveyor, city planner, land office agent, lawyer and politician of the Quaker faith. Life Ellicott was born in Bucks Co ...

(1732–1780) and his wife Judith (née Blaker or Bleaker, 1729–1809). The Quaker family lived in modest conditions; his father was a

miller A miller is a person who operates a mill, a machine to grind a grain (for example corn or wheat) to make flour. Milling is among the oldest of human occupations. "Miller", "Milne" and other variants are common surnames, as are their equivalent ...

and clockmaker. Young Andrew was educated at the local Quaker school, where

Robert Patterson Robert Patterson (January 12, 1792 – August 7, 1881) was an Irish-born United States major general during the American Civil War, chiefly remembered for inflicting an early defeat on Stonewall Jackson, but crucially failing to stop Confede ...

, who later became a professor and vice provost at the

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

, was his teacher for some time. Andrew was a talented mechanic like many of the family and showed some mathematical talent, too. In 1770, his father, together with his uncles

Andrew Andrew is the English form of a given name common in many countries. In the 1990s, it was among the top ten most popular names given to boys in List of countries where English is an official language, English-speaking countries. "Andrew" is freq ...

and

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

, purchased land on the falls of the Patapsco River, upriver and west of

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

and the

Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula (including the parts: the Eastern Shore of Maryland / ...

. There they set up a new milling business, founding the town of Ellicott's Mills in 1772 (today's Ellicott City, Maryland). Three years later, Andrew married Sarah Brown (1756/8–1827) of Newtown, Pennsylvania, with whom he would have ten children, one of which died as a child. When the Revolutionary War broke out in 1775, Andrew enlisted as a commissioned officer in the Elk Ridge Battalion of the newly organized Maryland state militia despite his Quaker upbringing. During the course of the war, he rose to the rank of major, a title he would keep as an honorific throughout his life.

Survey work

After the war, Ellicott returned home to Ellicott's Mills until he was appointed, in 1784, a member of the survey group tasked with extending the survey of the Mason-Dixon line for the borders between Pennsylvania /

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...

with

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

that had been abandoned in 1767 and then been stalled during the war. In this survey, he worked alongside

David Rittenhouse David Rittenhouse (April 8, 1732 – June 26, 1796) was an American astronomer, inventor, clockmaker, mathematician, surveyor, scientific instrument craftsman, and public official. Rittenhouse was a member of the American Philosophical Society a ...

and Bishop

James Madison James Madison Jr. (March 16, 1751June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father. He served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for h ...

, making first connections with the scientific society of Philadelphia. Following the death of their second son, the Ellicotts moved to Baltimore in 1785, where Andrew taught mathematics at the Baltimore Academy and was even elected to the

Maryland General Assembly The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland that convenes within the State House in Annapolis. It is a bicameral body: the upper chamber, the Maryland Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber ...

(state legislature) in 1786. The same year, he was called upon for a survey to define the western border of

with the Ohio Country. This "Ellicott Line" (running north–south at longitude meridian 80°31'12" W) later became the

principal meridian A principal meridian is a meridian used for survey control in a large region. Canada The Dominion Land Survey of Western Canada took its origin at the First (or Principal) Meridian, located at 97°27′28.41″ west of Greenwich, just west of Wi ...

for the surveys of the future Northwest Territory of the United States. His work in Pennsylvania intensified his ties with Rittenhouse and other members of the

American Philosophical Society The American Philosophical Society (APS), founded in 1743 in Philadelphia, is a scholarly organization that promotes knowledge in the sciences and humanities through research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and communit ...

, to which he had been elected a member in 1785, and led to encounters with

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin ( April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the leading inte ...

and

Simeon De Witt Simeon De Witt (December 25, 1756 – December 3, 1834) was Geographer and Surveyor General of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and Surveyor General of the State of New York for the fifty years from 1784 until his death. Life ...

. When he was subsequently appointed to lead other surveys in Pennsylvania, the family moved again in 1789 to

. By recommendation of Franklin, Ellicott got a position with the newly established government under the

Constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed. When these princ ...

and was tasked by first President

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...

to survey the lands between

Lake Erie Lake Erie ( "eerie") is the fourth largest lake by surface area of the five Great Lakes in North America and the eleventh-largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also h ...

and Pennsylvania to determine the border between

Western New York Western New York (WNY) is the westernmost region of the U.S. state of New York. The eastern boundary of the region is not consistently defined by state agencies or those who call themselves "Western New Yorkers". Almost all sources agree WNY i ...

and U.S. federal territory, resulting in the Erie Triangle. This survey, during which he also made the first topographical study of the Niagara River including the

Niagara Falls Niagara Falls () is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States. The largest of the three is Horseshoe Fall ...

, gained Ellicott a reputation for superb accuracy in surveys. Boundary Stone (District of Columbia) NE 4

From 1791 to 1792, at the request of Secretary of State

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was previously the natio ...

, Ellicott worked under the direction of the three commissioners that President

had appointed, surveying the boundaries of the federal Territory of Columbia, which would become the

in 1801, containing the Federal City also then becoming known as "Washington City". He was assisted in this survey first by the free

African-American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ensl ...

astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses their studies on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. They observe astronomical objects such as stars, planets, moons, comets and galaxies – in either ...

Benjamin Banneker Benjamin Banneker (November 9, 1731October 19, 1806) was an African-American naturalist, mathematician, astronomer and almanac author. He was a landowner who also worked as a surveyor and farmer. Born in Baltimore County, Maryland, to a fr ...

and then by Ellicott's brothers,

and Benjamin Ellicott. Ellicott's team put into place forty boundary stones approximately 1 mile (2 km) apart from each other that marked the borders of the Territory of Columbia of (see: Boundary Markers of the Original District of Columbia). Most of these stones remain in their original positions. As

engraving Engraving is the practice of incising a design onto a hard, usually flat surface by cutting grooves into it with a burin. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an in ...

s on many of the stones still show, Ellicott's team placed those that marked the southwestern /southeastern border with Virginia in 1791, and those that marked the northwestern / northeastern border with Maryland in 1792. On January 1, 1793, Ellicott submitted to the three commissioners "a report of his first map of the four lines of experiment, showing a half mile on each side, including the district of territory, with a survey of the different waters within the territory". The

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library ...

has attributed to 1793 Ellicott's earliest map of the Territory of Columbia that the Library holds within its collections. During 1791–1792, Ellicott also surveyed the future city of Washington, which was located within a relatively small area at the center of the Territory of Columbia along the northern bank of the

Potomac River The Potomac River () drains the Mid-Atlantic United States, flowing from the Potomac Highlands into Chesapeake Bay. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map. Retrieved Augu ...

at the confluence with its Eastern Branch (known today as the

Anacostia River The Anacostia River is a river in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States. It flows from Prince George's County in Maryland into Washington, D.C., where it joins with the Washington Channel to empty into the Potomac River at Buzzard Point. ...

). Ellicott also served under the Commissioners' supervision in this effort. He first worked with Pierre (Peter) Charles L'Enfant, who had prepared the initial plans for the future capital city during the early months of 1791 and had presented one of these early plans to President Washington in August of that year (see

L'Enfant Plan The L'Enfant Plan for the city of Washington is the urban plan developed in 1791 by Major Pierre (Peter) Charles L'Enfant for George Washington, the first president of the United States. History L'Enfant was a French engineer who served in ...

). During a contentious period in February 1792, Ellicott informed the Commissioners that L'Enfant had not been able to have the city plan engraved and printed as a map on paper and had refused to provide him with an original plan that L'Enfant was then holding. Ellicott, with the aid of his brother, Benjamin Ellicott, then revised the plan, despite L'Enfant's protests. Ellicott stated in his letters that, although he was refused the original plan, he was familiar with L'Enfant's system and had many notes of the surveys that he had made himself. It is therefore possible that Ellicott recreated the plan. Ellicott's revisions realigned and straightened the diagonal Massachusetts Avenue, eliminated five short other radial avenues and added two others, removed several plazas and straightened the borders of the future

Judiciary Square Judiciary Square is a neighborhood in Northwest Washington, D.C., the vast majority of which is occupied by various federal and municipal courthouses and office buildings. Judiciary Square is located roughly between Pennsylvania Avenue to the s ...

.(1
Plan of the City of Washington
''in'

Retrieved May 2, 2008.
(2)
(3) Note: The last line of text within an oval in the upper left corner of the plan that this web page describes identifies the plan's author as "Peter Charles L'Enfant". The web page nevertheless identifies the author as "Pierre-Charles L'Enfant."
(4)
(5

and ttp://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/62wash/62images/62map1.pdf enlarged image''in'
official website of the U.S. National Park Service
Retrieved October 23, 2009
(6) The U.S. National Archives holds a copy of "''Ellicott's engraved Plan superimposed on the Plan of L'Enfant showing the changes made in the engraved Plan under the direction of President Washington''". See "Scope & Contents" page of "Archival Description" for National Archives holding of "Miscellaneous Oversize Prints, Drawings and Posters of Projects Associated with the Commission of Fine Arts, compiled 1893–1950", ARC Identifier 518229/Local Identifier 66-M; Series from Record Group 66: Records of the Commission of Fine Arts, 1893–1981. Record of holding available from th
Archival Research Catalog (ARC) of the National Archives and Records Administration
under the ARC Identifier 518229. Retrieved February 3, 2009. As the conflicts grew between the contending parties shortly thereafter, President Washington dismissed L'Enfant. Ellicott gave the first version of his own plan to James Thakara and John Valance of Philadelphia, who engraved, printed and published it. This version, printed in March 1792, was the first Washington city plan that received wide circulation. After L'Enfant departed, Ellicott continued the city survey in accordance with his revised plan, several larger and more detailed versions of which were also engraved, published, printed and distributed. As a result, Ellicott's revisions became the basis for the capital city's future development. When he later quit the City of Washington project, Ellicott was relieved to escape the political pressures surrounding that venture. In 1794, Ellicott accepted a commission from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to plan the city of

Erie Erie (; ) is a city on the south shore of Lake Erie and the county seat of Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. Erie is the fifth largest city in Pennsylvania and the largest city in Northwestern Pennsylvania with a population of 94,831 a ...

on the southeastern shore of

, giving the Keystone State a future port on the

Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes in the mid-east region of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. There are five lak ...

and its increasing trade. He spent the next two years with this task, plotting a road from Reading, Pennsylvania, to Presqu'Isle, where the port city was to be built, and also supervising the construction of

Fort Erie Fort Erie is a town on the Niagara River in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. It is directly across the river from Buffalo, New York, and is the site of Old Fort Erie which played a prominent role in the War of 1812. Fort Erie is one of Ni ...

. In 1796, George Washington commissioned Ellicott as the U.S. representative on the commission for the survey of the southern border between the

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

territories along the

Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United ...

coast in

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

and the United States as negotiated in the

Treaty of San Lorenzo Pinckney's Treaty, also known as the Treaty of San Lorenzo or the Treaty of Madrid, was signed on October 27, 1795 by the United States and Spain. It defined the border between the United States and Spanish Florida, and guaranteed the United ...

(also known as Treaty of Madrid) of 1795. Ellicott travelled with a military escort from

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...

via the

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

and

Mississippi Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...

rivers and worked together with Spanish commissioners, despite many difficulties, for the next four years. Another "Ellicott's Line" from this survey, running along latitude parallel 31° North, still defines the border today between the future states of

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...

and Florida. One of his many stone markers for the boundary line, the Ellicott Stone, is now located within a historical park about a mile south of

Bucks, Alabama Bucks is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 22, down from 32 at the 2010 census. It is located in the northeastern section of the county ...

. In 1798, Ellicott complained to the government about four American generals receiving pensions from Spain, including General in Chief James Wilkinson, raising the specter of treason, which later involved Vice President (during Jefferson's first term), Aaron Burr. Ellicott showed considerable diplomatic talent during this joint project to bring it to a successful completion, and he presented his final report with maps to the government in 1800. (The ''Mapping'' episode of

Philip Morrison Philip Morrison (November 7, 1915 – April 22, 2005) was a professor of physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is known for his work on the Manhattan Project during World War II, and for his later work in quantum physi ...

's miniseries ''The Ring Of Truth'' illustrates Ellicott's surveying methods from Ellicott Hill in

Natchez Natchez may refer to: Places * Natchez, Alabama, United States * Natchez, Indiana, United States * Natchez, Louisiana, United States * Natchez, Mississippi, a city in southwestern Mississippi, United States * Grand Village of the Natchez, a site o ...

, which is now another

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...

.) The following Adams administration, however, then refused to pay Ellicott for his work done in this survey, and even refused him access to his maps he had submitted with the report. He was forced to sell some of his possessions, including books from his library, in order to support his family. Finally the maps were released in 1803 under the subsequent Jefferson administration, and Ellicott published his ''Journal of Andrew Ellicott'' detailing the Florida survey, including the maps. Jefferson, now president, then offered Ellicott the post of

Surveyor General of the Northwest Territory The Surveyor General of the Northwest Territory was a United States government official responsible for surveying land in the Northwest Territory in the United States late in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. The position was cre ...

. However, Ellicott refused the appointment. His prior negative experiences with the government political administrations may have had something to do with this, but at the age of 49, he also wanted to spend more time with his family and feared that this new position might require him to travel too much. Ellicott House Lancaster PA

Ellicott instead accepted an offer by Pennsylvania governor

Thomas McKean Thomas McKean (March 19, 1734June 24, 1817) was an American lawyer, politician, and Founding Father. During the American Revolution, he was a Delaware delegate to the Continental Congress, where he signed the Continental Association, the United ...

and took a position as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Land Office. The family moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Ellicott seemed content with a clerk's job that left him enough time for his own scientific and private interests and that provided a steady income for the family. The Andrew Ellicott House, in Lancaster where he resided from 1801 to 1813, was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1972, by the

National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propert ...

. Also in 1803, President Jefferson engaged Ellicott as a mentor and teacher for Meriwether Lewis, one of the leaders of the

Lewis and Clark Expedition The Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was the United States expedition to cross the newly acquired western portion of the country after the Louisiana Purchase. The Corps of Discovery was a select gr ...

that was to start the following year. From April to May 1803, Lewis stayed at Ellicott's home and studied survey techniques, and Ellicott made many recommendations on the expedition's equipment and survey procedures that were later followed. The two men apparently got along well. When Simon Snyder followed McKean as governor of Pennsylvania, he fired Ellicott in 1809 due to political differences. A prominent supporter of Snyder was former General in Chief James Wilkinson, one of the four generals that Ellicott had denounced eleven years earlier and had come under a cloud of treason, along with Vice President Aaron Burr. Ellicott returned to private practice and was hired in February 1811 by David B. Mitchell, then governor of

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

, to re-survey the border between Georgia and

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

to settle a

border dispute A territorial dispute or boundary dispute is a disagreement over the possession or control of land between two or more political entities. Context and definitions Territorial disputes are often related to the possession of natural resources s ...

between these two states. Although he started out in July, his expedition was delayed and had to work throughout the hard winter. Ellicott confirmed earlier findings that the border, which was supposed to follow latitude 35°N, was several miles further south than the Georgians claimed. His report was not well received by the Georgian administration, who furthermore refused to pay his fees. Ellicott returned in July 1812 to Pennsylvania. In 1813, Ellicott accepted a position as a professor for mathematics at the

United States Military Academy at West Point The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known Metonymy, metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a f ...

, and the family left Lancaster and moved to

West Point, New York West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States. Located on the Hudson River in New York, West Point was identified by General George Washington as the most important strategic position in America during the Ame ...

. In 1817, Ellicott was again called upon to participate as astronomer in a field survey, namely a re-survey – agreed upon in the

Treaty of Ghent The Treaty of Ghent () was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom. It took effect in February 1815. Both sides signed it on December 24, 1814, in the city of Ghent, United Netherlands (now in ...

– of the

Collins–Valentine line The Collins–Valentine line, or Valentine–Collins line, is the boundary at approximately 45 degrees north latitude that separates the province of Quebec from the states of New York and Vermont. It was surveyed and marked by survey monuments i ...

. It was the last significant survey that he performed. Ellicott died three years later from a stroke in his home at West Point.

In memoriam

Andrew Ellicott Park at the West Cornerstone, located in

Arlington County Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part. The county ...

, the City of Falls Church and

Fairfax County Fairfax County, officially the County of Fairfax, is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of Northern Virginia and borders both the city of Alexandria, Virginia, Alexandria and ...

Northern Virginia Northern Virginia, locally referred to as NOVA or NoVA, comprises several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. It is a widespread region radiating westward and southward from Washington, D.C. Wit ...

at the original west corner of the District of Columbia, memorializes Ellicott. Ellicott Circle and Ellicott Street in the District of Columbia also memorialize him.Coordinates of Ellicott Street in the District of Columbia:

Publications and archives

* Ellicott, Andrew, and David Gillespie. n.d. Andrew Ellicott papers. Correspondence, maps, charts, and reports of astronomical observations chiefly concerning Ellicott's work in surveying the boundary between the U.S. and Florida under the San Lorenzo Treaty (1795) and also his surveys of the city of Washington, the boundary between Georgia and South Carolina, the town of Presque Isle (later Erie), Pa., and the boundary between the U.S. and Canada under the Treaty of Ghent (1814). Other subjects discussed are international politics, Indian affairs, and the Blount conspiracy (1797). Includes papers of Ellicott's assistant David Gillespie. Family correspondents include Ellicott's wife Sarah and his brother Joseph. Other correspondents include Daniel Clark, Jr.,

William Dunbar William Dunbar (born 1459 or 1460 – died by 1530) was a Scottish makar, or court poet, active in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. He was closely associated with the court of King James IV and produced a large body of work i ...

Manuel Gayoso de Lemos Don Manuel Luis Gayoso de Lemos y Amorín, KOM, OTS (May 30, 1747 – July 18, 1799) was the governor of Spanish Louisiana from 1797 until his death in 1799. Biography Early years and military career Born in Oporto, Portugal, on May 30, ...

David Gillespie David "Cement" Gillespie (born 22 March 1964) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a and forward in the 1980s and 1990s. Gillespie played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Western Suburbs Magpies, ...

Benjamin Hawkins Benjamin Hawkins (August 15, 1754June 6, 1816) was an American planter, statesman and a U.S. Indian agent He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and a United States Senator from North Carolina, having grown up among the planter elite ...

, Stephen Minor,

Timothy Pickering Timothy Pickering (July 17, 1745January 29, 1829) was the third United States Secretary of State under Presidents George Washington and John Adams. He also represented Massachusetts in both houses of Congress as a member of the Federalist Party ...

, John Pitchlynn,

Winthrop Sargent Winthrop Sargent (May 1, 1753 – June 3, 1820) was a United States patriot, politician, and writer; and a member of the Federalist party. Early life Sargent was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts on May 1, 1753. He was one of eight childre ...

, Cornelius P. Van Ness, and James Wilkinson. 925 items. 7 containers. 2 microfilm reels. 1.1 linear feet. * Andrew Ellicott. 1818. "Astronomical Observations, &c. Communicated by Andrew Ellicott, Esq." Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, New Series, Vol. 1, (1818), pp. 93–101. * United States, Isaac Briggs, Andrew Ellicott, Albert Gallatin, John Garnett, F. R. Hassler, James Madison, Joshua John Moore, Robert Patterson, and Roger Chew Weightman. 1811. Message from the president of the U. States, transmitting a report of the secretary of the Treasury, on the execution of the act providing for the survey of the coast of the U. States.: February 4, 1811. Printed by order of the Senate of the United States. Washington City .C. Printed by R.C. Weightman. President's message, addressed to the Senate, signed on p. James Madison. Letter of transmittal from the Dept. of the Treasury signed on p Albert Gallatin. Includes a circular letter from Albert Gallatin to Robert Patterson, Andrew Ellicott, F.R. Hassler, John Garnett, Isaac Briggs, Joshua J. Moore and James Madison, outlining the broad scope of the proposed survey and requesting the name of "any person whom you might recommend as capable of acting in the different parts of the work," followed by the response of each. * Andrew Ellicott. 1809. "A Short and Easy Rule for Finding the Equation for the Change of the Sun's Declination When Equal Altitudes Are Used to Regulate a Clock or Other Time Keeper. Communicated by Andrew Ellicott Esq." ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society'', Vol. 6, (1809), pp. 26–28. * Robert Patterson and Andrew Ellicott. 1809. "Improved Method of Projecting and Measuring Plane Angles by Mr. Robert Patterson Communicated by Mr. Andrew Ellicott." ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society'', Vol. 6, (1809), pp. 29–32. * Andrew Ellicott. 1809. "Astronomical Observations Made at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Chiefly with a View to Ascertain the Longitude of That Borough, and as a Test of the Accuracy with Which the Longitude May Be Found by Lunar Observation; In a Letter from Andrew Ellicott to Robert Patterson." ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society'', Vol. 6, (1809), pp. 61–69. * Andrew Ellicott. 1809. "Observations of the Eclipse of the Sun, June 16th, 1806; Made at Lancaster." ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society'', Vol. 6, (1809), pp. 255–260. * Andrew Ellicott. 1809. "Continuation of the Astronomical Observations Made at Lancaster, in Pennsylvania." ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society'', Vol. 6, (1809), pp. 233–235. * Jose Joaquin de Ferrer, Andrew Ellicott, Julian Ortis de Canelas and M. Mechain. 1809. "The Geographical Position of Sundry Places in North America, and in the W. Indies, Calculated by J. J. de Ferrer." ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society'', Vol. 6, (1809), pp. 221–232. * Evans, Evan, Andrew Ellicott, and Oliver Evans. 1807. Patent cyder, or tobacco press. Philadelphia, Pa: s.n. A patent license. Title from caption of illustration; text begins: Explanation. A, the cheese of pumice, or hogshead of tobacco, &c. signed: Evan Evans. Testimonial signed and dated: Andrew Ellicott. Lancaster, Pennsylvania, June 2, 1806. Manufacturer's statement, dated "Mars works, Philadelphia, April 30, 1807" and signed: Oliver Evans. Illustration signed: F. Shallus engraver No. 80 South Front St. Philada. Printed on paper watermarked "W Young 1804" (Gravell 1054). * Ellicott, Andrew. 1803. The journal of Andrew Ellicott, late commissioner on behalf of the United States during part of the year 1796, the years 1797, 1798, 1799, and part of the year 1800 for determining the boundary between the United States and the possessions of His Catholic Majesty in America, containing occasional remarks on the situation, soil, rivers, natural productions, and diseases of the different countries on the Mississippi, and gulf of Mexico, with six maps comprehending the Ohio, the Mississippi from the mouth of the Ohio to the gulf of Mexico, the whole of West Florida, and part of East Florida ; to which is added an appendix, containing all the astronomical observations made use of for determining the boundary ... likewise a great number of thermometrical observations. Philadelphia: Budd & Bartram, for Thomas Dobson. * Andrew Ellicott. 1802. "Astronomical, and Thermometrical Observations, Made at the Confluence of the Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers." ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society'', Vol. 5, (1802), pp. 162–202. * Andrew Ellicott. 1802. "Astronomical, and Thermometrical Observations, Made on the Boundary between the United States and His Catholic Majesty." ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society'', Vol. 5, (1802), pp. 203–311. * Andrew Ellicott. 1799. "A Letter from Mr. Andrew Ellicott, to Mr. Robert Patterson. A Method of Calculating the Eccentric Anomaly of the Planets." ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society'', Vol. 4, (1799), pp. 67–69. * Andrew Ellicott. 1799. "Observations Made on the Old French Landing at Presqu' Isle, to Determine the Latitude of the Town of Erie. In a Letter from Andrew Ellicott, to Robert Patterson Secretary of the Society." Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 4, (1799), pp. 231–232. * Andrew Ellicott. 1799. "Miscellaneous Observations Relative to the Western Parts of Pennsylvania, Particularly Those in the Neighbourhood of Lake Erie." ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society'', Vol. 4, (1799), pp. 224–230. * Andrew Ellicott. 1799. "A Letter from Mr. Andrew Ellicott, to Robert Patterson; In Two Parts. Part First Contains a Number of Astronomical Observations. Part Second Contains the Theory and Method of Calculating the Aberration of the Stars, the Nutation of the Earth's Axis, and the Semiannual Equation." ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society'', Vol. 4, (1799), pp. 32–66. * Andrew Ellicott and R. Patterson. 1799. "Observations for Determining the Latitude and Longitude of the Town of Natchez. By Andrew Ellicott, Esq. Commissioner on the Part of the United States, for Running the Line of Demarkation between Them and the Spanish Territory. Communicated to the Society by R. Patterson." ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society'', Vol. 4, (1799), pp. 447–451. * United States, and Andrew Ellicott. 1798. Message from the President of the United States, accompanying a report to him from the secretary of state, and sundry documents relative to the affairs of the United States on the Mississippi the intercourse with the Indian nations, and the inexecution of the treaty between the United States and Spain. Philadelphia: Printed by W. Ross. Twenty-third January, 1798, ordered to lie on the table. Published by order of the House of Representatives. * Andrew Ellicott. 1793. "Extract of a Letter from Andrew Ellicott, to David Rittenhouse, Esq. Dated at Pittsburg, November 5th 1787, Containing Observations Made at Lake-Erie, on That Singular Phenomenon, by Seamen Termed Looming." ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society'', Vol. 3, (1793), pp. 62–63. * Andrew Ellicott. 1793. "Accurate Determination of the Right Ascension and Declination of β Bootes, and the Pole Star: In a Letter from Mr. Andrew Ellicott to Mr. R. Patterson." ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society'', Vol. 3, (1793), pp. 116–118. * Ellicott, Andrew. 1792. Territory annexed to the State of Pennsylvania: containing two hundred and two thousand one hundred and eighty seven acres. Shows two sides of the stone boundary marker between Pennsylvania and New York. * Ellicott, Andrew, and William Irvine. 1790. Plan of the town of

Waterford, Pennsylvania Waterford is a borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,475 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area. Waterford is an independent municipality located entirely within (and surroun ...

. Photostats of original manuscript map done ca. 1795 located in the Pennsylvania State Archives. Includes legend. Alternate title: A correct Plan of the Town of Waterford and out-lots. Relief shown by shading. Description: 1 map on 2 sheets: photocopies; 52 x 72 cm. Other Titles: Correct plan of the town of Waterford and out-lots. * Ellicott, Andrew. 1787. Ellicott's Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania almanack, for the year of our Lord, 1788; being leap-year, and the twelfth year of American independence. Containing the motions of the sun and moon, the true places and aspects of the planets, the rising and setting of the sun, and the rising, setting, southing, and age of the moon, &c. Likewise, the lunations, conjunctions, eclipses, judgment of the weather, rising and setting of most of the principal fixed stars, length of days, and Quakers yearly meetings; days for holding courts in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia; several valuable physical receipts; and some useful tables, both curious and interesting; with the remarkable American occurrences, &c. &c. The whole comprising a great variety of matter, both useful and entertaining. Winchester: printed and sold by Bartgis & Willcocks, at their printing-office, where all manner of printing is executed with fidelity and dispatch. Also to be had at the English and German printing-office, in Frederick-Town, Maryland." The astronomical part of this work was calculated by that ingenious mathematician Andrew Ellicott, Esq; of this state."—Preface. * Ellicott, Andrew. 1790. "Description of the Falls of Niagara". ''The Massachusetts Magazine, or, Monthly Museum of Knowledge and Rational Entertainment''. 2 (7). Pages 387–388.

Notes

References

* Bedini, S. "Andrew Ellicott, Surveyor of the Wilderness", ''Surveying and Mapping'' (June 1976): 113–135. * Crim, R. D.:
Andrew Ellicott and the North Georgia Boundary of 1811
', paper submitted to the ACSM/FIG Conference in April 2002 in Washington, D.C. Retrieved August 10, 2005. * Davis, N.M.:

'', Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, Philadelphia Chapter, 2001. Retrieved August 10, 2005. * Davis, N.M.:
Andrew Ellicott and Meriwether Lewis
', Discovering Lewis & Clark, May 2005. Retrieved August 10, 2005. * * * Nolan, A. (revised by Kerwin, P.)
''Andrew Ellicott: An Register of His Papers in the Library of Congress''
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 2003, ''in'' official website o

Retrieved February 13, 2009. * Spies, G.C.:
Major Andrew Ellicott, Esq. — Colonial American Astronomical Surveyor, Patriot, Cartographer, Legislator, Scientific Instrument Maker, Boundary Commissioner & Professor of Mathematics
', presented at the FIG XXII International Congress, Washington, D.C., April 19–26, 2002, ''in'' website o
International Federation of Surveyors, FIG
Retrieved February 13, 2009. * Toscano, P.:
Book Review: Andrew Ellicott, His Life and Letters
', Professional Surveyor Magazine 17(6), September 1996.

External links

* was one of Andrew Ellicott's teachers. *. *.

2009-10-25).
Article and portrait at "Discovering Lewis & Clark"

Andrew Ellicott: Early America's Preeminent Surveyor by Chas Langelan

Image of Andrew Ellicott, 1809
by painter Jacob Eichholtz of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
A surveying instrument
of Andrew Ellicott, with images.
Ellicott's Mound
historical marker {{DEFAULTSORT:Ellicott, Andrew History of Washington, D.C. History of Lancaster, Pennsylvania American surveyors People from Bucks County, Pennsylvania People from Lancaster, Pennsylvania 1754 births 1820 deaths American Quakers