John Ogilby

John Ogilby (1600–1676) was a Scottish-born translator, cartographer, and publisher whose ambitious atlases and illustrated books made him one of the most influential figures in 17th-century English printing. Originally a dancer and theater manager, Ogilby turned to literary translation after an injury ended his stage career. His early successes included English editions of Virgil, Aesop, and Homer, all lavishly produced and notable for their fine typography and engraved plates. Following the Great Fire of London in 1666, which destroyed his home and business, Ogilby rebuilt his fortunes through cartography and publishing on an unprecedented scale.

In 1670 he was appointed “His Majesty’s Cosmographer and Geographic Printer,” and under that title he produced Britannia (1675), the first comprehensive road atlas of England and Wales. Drawn from detailed surveys and engraved with exceptional clarity, Britannia established the modern format of route mapping, setting the standard for centuries to come. Ogilby also issued grand folio editions of world geographies based on the works of Arnoldus Montanus and other continental authors, including Africa, America, and Asia, combining rich visual appeal with informative text. His books remain landmarks of Restoration-era publishing—celebrated for their craftsmanship, scale, and the vision of one of Britain’s first great commercial mapmakers.