William Faden, Geographer to His Majesty

Copper-engraved billhead with handwritten invoice issued by the cartographer and geographer William Faden, located at the corner of St Martin's Lane, Charing Cross. The billhead notes that Faden is geographer to King George III and the Prince of Wales. The handwritten invoice dated 1793 refers to the mounting of a large map of Hampshire for the client Sir James Long. Although the invoice is dated 1793 the receipt of that payment also noted on the invoice is dated 1797.
By 1793 William Faden (1749-1836) was London's leading map-maker and publisher. Originally employed by the Thomas Jefferys partnership Faden subsequently took over the firm as noted on the billhead. He became official map-maker to George III in 1783 and supplied the majority of maps used for the American War of Independence. Both Jefferys and Faden were known for their accuracy basing their maps on the most recent surveys. Faden is also known to have published the first Ordnance Survey map; this was of Kent, surveyed by Mudge and published by Faden in 1801.