David Thompson’s mapping of the international boundary,
1816-1826
Frances Pollitt, Maine Historical Society
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David Thompson, Canada's most accomplished, famous and beloved
of the 19th century cartographers, is best known for his work in the
far west mapping the international boundary west of Lake of the
Woods to the Pacific coast. Recently (2004) I cataloged a collection
of his maps held at the Maine Historical Society in Portland, Maine.
These maps, his associated correspondence and survey journal cover
the mapping of the boundary in the vicinity of the Great Lakes; from
the St. Lawrence to Lake of the Woods, and were undertaken under
the direction of two British Commissioners for the International
Boundary Commission under Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty of Ghent
and are all part of the Thomas Barclay collection of materials related
to the boundary commissions in the 18th and 19th century. Of particular
interest is the high quality of these surveys and the inclusion of his son,
Samuel Barclay, in the creation of their creation. It is my purpose to
highlight this segment of David Thompson's life and work by sharing
information about these maps, his journal and selected correspondence.