John Hamilton Moore to Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1805
From John Hamilton Moore
London July 12. 1805
Sir
The last Charts I did of North America I dedicated to the late General Washington who sent me polite answers; as you now preside at the head of the Congress, I have taken the liberty of this Chart to you, they are done with an intent to connect the Navigation of North America with the West Indies, and I trust they will be found useful—
I am Sir with the greatest Respect Your Obedt Servant
J. Hamilton Moore
RC (ViW: Tucker-Coleman Collection); endorsed by TJ as received 3 Jan. 1806 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Moore, “To His Excellency Thos. Jefferson, esqr., President of the Congress, This Chart of the United States of America: Including Halifax, Havannah, New Providence, and All the Northern Parts of the West Indies” (London, 1805).
John Hamilton Moore (d. 1807) was a British hydrographer and teacher. After studying mathematics and serving as a marine on board a British warship, he settled in London, where he taught school and began publishing sea charts and other sailing aids. His Practical Navigator and Seaman’s New Daily Assistant first appeared in 1772, and under a variant title went through multiple editions. In addition, Moore published a reader for use by English teachers, which also went through many editions (Universal Magazine, 9 [1808], 77; Moore, The New Practical Navigator; Being an Epitome of Navigation, Rendered Easy to Any Common Capacity [London, 1793], list of charts and navigation books in unpaginated back matter; , 9:252n).