John Pinkerton (1758-1826) was an eminent Scottish antiquarian and cartographer. Along with illustrious names such as John Thomson & co. and John Cary, he redefined cartography and helped establish Britain as the world leader in map making during the early 19th century. Whereas 18th century maps had had an ornamental charm, Pinkerton’s were based on a scientific rationale that demanded detail, quality and accuracy. His most noted work was his ‘Modern Atlas’ which was published from 1808 to 1815 with an additional American version by Dobson & co. in 1818.
