The Seven Years War (1756-63)
Manuscript and printed maps and views, correspondence and journals from the first global war
Map of Fort Royal, 1762 (Fort-de-France, Martinique) 14°36'32"N 61°04'24"W
published 1793Etching with aquatint and engraving; hand-coloured; printed from two copperplates on two sheets of paper, joined; laid down on canvas; edged with red silk ribbon; one pink linen tie to top edge [none missing]; no brass rings [none missing] | Scale: 1:19,868 approx. | RCIN 733041
The actions portrayed on this map took place in January and February 1762; the French capitulated (4 February) and the island of Martinique had surrendered. The British were commanded by Major-General Robert Monckton (1726-82; Governor and Commander-in-Chief of New York Province) and Rear-Admiral George Rodney (bap.1718-92). The French were under the orders of Francis V of Beauharnais (1714-1800). The British retained control of the island until the end of the Seven Years War and then returned it, together with Guadeloupe, to the French. The draughtsman of this plan, William Booth, was commissioned into the Engineers as an Ensign on 2 August 1771, and became a Lieutenant in 1779, but before this, from 1760 to 1771, he was a Board of Ordnance draughtsman in the Drawing Room at the Tower of London. Faden’s plan is therefore possibly derived from one which was made by Booth during his time at the Tower.
Condition: one fold line; surface dirt along bottom edge. Verso: surface dirt along fold line and top edge, consistent with the map having been rolled.
William Faden (1749-1836) (publisher) [top right, below title:] LONDON / Published by W. Faden, Geog.r to His Majesty and to / His R.H. the Prince of Wales Charing Cross Nov.r 11. 1793.
William Booth (1748-1826) (draughtsman) [top right, below title:] DRAWN by / Lieut.t WILLIAM BOOTH, Roy.l Eng.rs
Watermark: None
Condition: one fold line; surface dirt along bottom edge. Verso: surface dirt along fold line and top edge, consistent with the map having been rolled
Scale: 1:19,868 approx. Scale bars: Scale of 1760 Yards, or one English Mile [81 mm =].
87.4 x 68.9 cm (neatline)
87.9 x 69.9 cm (image)
cropped (platemark)
90.7 x 72.9 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
PLAN OF THE / HARBOUR, FORT, TOWN AND ENVIRONS / OF / FORT ROYAL IN MARTINIQUE. [top right, inside neatline]
Annotations:
George III heading [top left, black pencil:] Military.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [right centre, red felt tip pen on red-printed 1980's Royal Library label:] XIII 41 Martinique.
K. Mil. dummy sheet:
TItle [ink:] A Plan of the Harbour, Fort, Town & Environs of Fort Royal in Martinique; (with the / Siege in Jan.y & Feb.y 1762, by the Forces under General Monkton and Admiral Rodney: and a printed Journal of Ditto:) by Lieut. W..m Booth Eng.r - published by Faden 1793 2 sheets / A Roll ... [black pencil:] 5 Table 2.d / [black pencil, in a modern hand, ca 1996:] to be 733041.a / [old heading, red ink:] Fort Royal 16 Jan. - 4 Feb. 1762 [black pencil, in a modern hand, ca 1986:] Big. Sep. seq.
Watermark: Budgen & Wilmott / 1810.
Size: 46.9 x 32.6 cm (sheet).George III catalogue entry:
Fort Royal A Plan of the Harbour, Fort, Town and Environs of Fort Royal in Martinique (with the Siege in Jan.y and Feb.y 1762 by the Forces under General Monckton and Admiral Rodney, and a printed journal of D.o) by Lieut. W.m Booth Eng.r published by Faden 1793. 2 sheets.
Subject(s)
Fort-de-France, Martinique (14°36'32"N 61°04'24"W)
Page revisions
4 June 2024
Current version
