1795 Harris / Carey Map of Rhode Island

Matthew Carey (January 28, 1760 - September 16, 1839) was a Dublin born publisher who established himself in Philadelphia in the late 18th and early 19th century. A young man of socially progressive views, Carey's first known publication, produced when he was but 17 years old, was a pamphlet criticizing dueling. Another pamphlet, issued in the same year, attacked the Irish penal code. Shortly afterwards, in 1779, legal issues, possibly arising from his liberal political activism, forced Carey to flee to Paris. In Paris, Carey had the good fortune to befriend the visiting American diplomat and founding father, Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790). As an Irishman chafing under the rule of England, Carey sympathized with and admired the American revolutionary. The liberally minded pair struck up a lifelong friendship and Carey was hired to work at Franklin's press in Passy, France. A year later, Carey returned to Ireland and resumed his politically provocative publishing career with The Freemans's Journal and The Volunteer's Journal. It didn't take long for political pressure to once again force Carey from Ireland - this time to America (1784). Although largely without funds, Carey convinced Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757 - 1834), who he knew from Franklin's Paris circle, to lend him funds to establish a new publishing concern in Philadelphia. Despite this loan, Carey's firm remained under financed and opened on a shoestring budget. It was most likely his limited budget that led Carey to some of his most important publishing innovations. At the time cartographic publishing was dominated by large printing houses in London and Paris where most, if not all, of the work was completed in house. Without the finances to emulate this large publishing houses, Carey was forced to outsource much of his publishing work. This set the stage for subsequent American publishers who, in order to compete effectively with European firms, relied on an often bewildering network of alliances and collaborations. Carey was also a master of republishing many of his own maps in multiple different atlases and formats to maximize their profitability. His most important work is without a doubt the 1795 issue of the American Atlas the first atlas to be published in America. Carey died in 1839 but was succeeded by his son Henry Charles Carey (1793 - 1879) who, in partnership with his brother-in-law Isaac Lea (1792 - 1886), published numerous important maps and atlases under the Carey and Lea, Lea Brothers, and Lea and Blanchard imprints. More by this mapmaker...

Caleb Harris (August 9, 1739 - January 16, 1812) was an American surveyor. Born near Providence, Rhode Island, Harris came from a prominent Rhode Island family. He served as a captain in the Captain General's Cavaliers from July 24-31, 1778, which coincided with the Battle of Rhode Island. He also was 'appointed one of a committee to procure weapons and accoutrements' for the town in March 1776 and was appointed Inspector of Gunpowder in October 1776. He became a member of a committee to provide blankets to the troops in April 1777 and was appointed Commissioner to sign and number bills of public credit in July 1780. He served as the Town Clerk of Johnston, Rhode Island, for many years, and also served on the Town Council at several points during his lifetime. Harris was also a prominent landowner in Johnston and owned an estate of 200 acres. He married Margaret Westcott on October 11, 1760, with whom he had 13 children, only 4 of whom lived beyond the age of 20. In 1795 Harris helped compile a landmark map of Rhode Island, the first accurate map of the state. One of his sons, Hardin Harris (September 12, 1768 - March 20, 1808) helped Harris make his landmark map of Rhode Island. Learn More...

Harding Harris (September 12, 1768 - March 20, 1808) was an American lawyer and landowner. Born in Johnston, Rhode Island, Harris' only known cartographic achievement was helping his father Caleb Harris (August 9, 1739 - January 16, 1812) compile a landmark map of Rhode Island, the first accurate map of the state. Harding Harris married Abigail Smith on August 14m 1796, with whom he had 7 children. Harris died on March 20, 1808, of tuberculosis. Learn More...