1826 Depot de la Marine Nautical Chart or Map of Bay of Campeche, Mexico

This is an 1826 Dépôt de la Marine nautical chart or maritime map of the Gulf Coast of Mexico. The publication of this map in France reflects renewed and growing imperial interest in the New World which would soon lead to the French Intervention in Mexico (1838 - 1839). This coast, and the Yucatan specifically were at the time among the most important and wealthy parts of Mexico - the only place in the world where sisal could be farmed from Henequen agave - the source of most the world's nautical rope until the invention of synthetics.

A Closer Look

Based upon earlier Spanish charts, coverage embraces from the Laguna Madre south to the Yucatan Peninsula. Depth soundings appear haphazardly, disappearing along the stretch of coastline in the Bay of Campeche, except for the Laguna de Términos, underscoring just how poorly this region was mapped in the early 19th century.

French Immigration to Mexico

French citizens began immigrating to Mexico as early as 1700 despite the Spanish ban on all foreign settlement in its New World colonies. French expatriates were allowed to settle in Mexico because of the Family Compact between France and Spain, signed by the two countries after French King Charles X installed his grandson Philip V, as King of Spain in 1700. Nonetheless, French immigrants to Mexico had to meet specific requirements, such as mastery of a unique and useful trade. French immigration to Mexico surged after 1821, when Mexico gained its independence. The French established colonies and encouraged settlement in Mexico, with an estimated 6,000 French expatriates living in Mexico by 1860. French citizens were increasingly unwelcome in Mexico and began complaining about their treatment. Many describe being unfairly taxed and forced to take out usurious loans, among other issues. French immigrants were moreover denied land ownership, a law that applied to all foreigners in Mexico, not just French citizens. These complaints directly influenced the First French Intervention in Mexico in 1838 - 1839 and the subsequent French invasion of 1861 - 1867, when France installed Emperor Maximilian I in Mexico. Maximilian's time as Emperor of Mexico ended in front of a Mexican firing squad.

Publication History and Census

This map was engraved by Jean-François Caplin with lettering by J.P. Besançon and published by the Dépôt de la Marine in 1826. An example is cataloged in OCLC and is part of the collection at the Bibliothèque nationale de France.