Bellin, Jacques-Nicolas

(1703 - 1772)

Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (born Paris 1703, died Versailles 21 March 1772). In 1721 Bellin was appointed hydrographer (chief cartographer) to the French Navy upon the creation of France's hydrographic office, the Dépôt des cartes et plans de la Marine. Appointed "ingénieur hydrographe" in August 1741. Member of the Académie de Marine and of the Royal Society of London. Over a 50 year career he produced a large number of maps of particular interest to the Ministère de la Marine. His maps of Canada and of French territories in North America (New France, Acadia, Louisiana) are particularly valuable. Published during his lifetime were: Hydrographie française (1753), Petit Atlas Maritime (1764) and Nouvelle méthode pour apprendre la géographie (1769).