zoom_in Click to enlarge

Herman Moll

▲ ▼

description Herman Moll Overview

Herman Moll was a prominent 18th-century cartographer who was born in Germany and spent his professional life active in London. He initially worked as an engraver before establishing his own map publishing business, producing detailed maps, globes, and atlases. Moll is particularly noted for his maps of the Americas and his famous Beaver map of 1715, which depicted the British and French disputes in North America. He frequently socialized with notable intellectual figures of his time, including Jonathan Swift and Daniel Defoe.

help Herman Moll FAQ

Where did Herman Moll build his cartographic career?

Herman Moll was born in Germany but established his professional career in London. He worked there as an engraver, map publisher, and producer of atlases and globes.

What is Herman Moll's Atlas Geographus?

Atlas Geographus was a large geographical project issued in monthly parts from 1707 to 1717 and eventually organized into five volumes. It combined maps with geographical descriptions for readers in Britain.

Why is Herman Moll's Beaver Map famous?

The nickname refers to an inset illustration showing beavers and their dams on one of Moll's North American maps. The image helped make the map memorable as both a geographical document and a picture of colonial-era natural history.

What kinds of maps did Herman Moll publish?

Moll produced maps of Europe, North America, the British Empire, and other parts of the world. His output also included globes and geographical reference works such as A System of Geography.