John Bartholomew

John Bartholomew was a prominent Scottish cartographer and publisher who lived in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Born on 26 April 1831 in Edinburgh, Scotland, he was part of a family devoted to cartography for generations. His father, John Bartholomew Senior, was also a respected cartographer, so it was hardly surprising that John Junior followed in his father's footsteps.

Bartholomew was educated at high school in Edinburgh and began his career in the family business, which specialized in the production of maps and atlases. He was known for his precise and aesthetically pleasing maps, which were appreciated by both scientists and the general public. His work was characterized by a high level of detail and innovative representational techniques that significantly influenced the cartography of his time.

In 1856, John Bartholomew took over the management of the family business and took it to new heights. He was a pioneer in the use of colors in maps to highlight topographical features and contributed to the development of modern cartography. Under his leadership, the company published numerous atlases and map series that received international recognition. He is particularly well known for the "Times Atlas of the World", which was first published in 1895 and is still considered a standard work today.