Samuel Dunn (bap. 1723-1794) was a teacher of mathematics and navigation who published, among other things, maps and charts. Although information about his early education is lacking, by age nineteen he was leading his own school and teaching writing, accounting, navigation, and mathematics in Devon. In 1751, he moved to London, where he taught in several schools and tutored privately.
By the 1760s, Dunn was known as a respected astronomer and had published a range of textbooks on math, navigation, and astronomy. After the publication of theNautical Almanac, Dunn acted as a certifier of ships’ masters under the new system, on behalf of the Board of Longitude. He performed similar work for the East India Company, as well as made charts of the East Indies. In 1776 he publishedA New Variation Atlasand, in 1777,A New Epitome of Practical Navigation, or, Guide to the Indian Seas. By 1780, he was named editor of theNew Directory for the East Indies, which included his own charts. In 1786, he released a pioneering study,Theory and Practice of Longitude at Sea. He also designed several instruments for navigation.
Dunn died at his home in Fleet Street in January 1794. His books and maps were auctioned at Sothebys in a sale of over 1,000 lots. Many of these were bought by Alexander Dalrymple, hydrographer of the East India Company and soon-to-be-named first head of the Hydrography Office.
Robert Sayer (ca. 1724-1794) was one of the most successful print and map makers of the 17th century. Robert took over the business following the death of his brother Philip, who had in tern gained the business via marriage to the widow Mary Overton. Robert's business acumen was strong and he set about building the company, first by acquiring the plate stock of John Sennex, Henry Overton and John Rocque. To help with costs, he worked in partnership with Thomas and John Bowles, and William Herbert.
Roberts most successful business deal was with the struggling business of Thomas Jeffery's, which put him in procession of a large number of copper plates relating to the north American continent. The outbreak of the American revolution created a demand for maps of North America which Robert Sayer responded to with four new publications devoted entirely to the American colonies.
Following the independence of the United States the company began publishing charts. This coincided with the revolutionary war in France and the rise of Napoleon Buonaparte. The navigational charts quickly became in demand as H M Navy sought to control the seas.
Robert died in 1794 selling the business in house to two of his employers, Robert Laurie and James Whittle,
