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Haiti on the Eve of Revolution
A fine 18th-century map of Cap-Haïtien, the historical capital of Haiti.
Cap-Haïtien, then called Cap-Français (or Cap-Francois), was the capital of the French colony of Saint-Domingue (Haiti), from the time of its founding in 1711 until 1770. During this period, Saint-Domingue was one of the most economically productive places in the world, owing to it flourishing sugar industry.
As evident on the map, the city was laid out on a neat geometrical grid, following Enlightenment precepts. The town was, and is still dominated by the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Cap-Haïtien, the largest church in Haiti.
The present map was issued by Thomas Jefferys in London to capitalize of the great interest in French and Spanish ports owing to the ongoing Seven Years' War (1756-1763). Due to it's key role in the French colonial system, Cap-Haïtien was a prime proposed target for an attack by Britain's Royal Navy, although it was passed over in favor of more easily-conquerable French possessions, such as Martinique and Guadeloupe.
In the 18th century, Saint-Domingue, as it was then known, was a French colony and one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean due to its production of sugar, coffee, and indigo, cultivated by enslaved Africans. Cap-François (now Cap-Haïtien) was the economic heart of the colony and a key location in the Atlantic trading system.
The Haitian Revolution began in 1791 and was a direct response to the brutal conditions under French colonial rule. The initial leader of the uprising was a vodou houngan (priest) named Dutty Boukman, and the first major conflict was the Battle of Bois Caïman. The revolution was further galvanized by leaders like Toussaint L'Ouverture, a former slave who became the most prominent leader of the revolution, and Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who continued the fight after Toussaint's capture by the French in 1802.
The conflict saw various shifts in control and allegiances, with Spanish and British forces also attempting to take advantage of the unrest to seize control of parts of the colony. Key battles during the revolution include the Siege of Fort Dauphin (1793), the Battle of Crête-à-Pierrot (1802), and the Battle of Vertières (1803). The latter, near Cap-François, was a decisive conflict leading to the French defeat.
The Haitian Revolution culminated in 1804 with the declaration of independence by Dessalines, who proclaimed the former colony as the independent nation of Haiti. This was a monumental event as it marked the first successful slave revolt in modern history and led to the establishment of the first black-led republic in the world, and the second independent nation in the Americas after the United States.
Thomas Jefferys (c. 1719–1771) was a prolific map publisher, engraver, and cartographer based in London, known for his significant contributions to the cartography of North America and the West Indies during the 18th century. Jefferys was born to a cutler but was apprenticed to Emanuel Bowen, a prominent mapmaker and engraver. He gained his freedom from the Merchant Taylors’ Company in 1744, although he had already produced maps under his name as early as 1732. Throughout his career, Jefferys collaborated with several partners, including Thomas Kitchin, with whom he published The Small English Atlas in 1748-9, and Robert Sayer, with whom he co-created A General Topography of North America in 1768. Sayer also published posthumous collections featuring Jefferys' work, such as The American Atlas, The North-American Pilot, and The West-India Atlas.
Jefferys served as the Geographer to Frederick, Prince of Wales, and from 1760, to King George III. His role primarily involved supplying maps to the royal family, particularly during the height of the Seven Years' War, which spurred demand for detailed and accurate maps of North America. Jefferys not only sold maps commercially but also maintained connections with government bodies for whom he produced specialized materials, further solidifying his status in the map trade.
Despite his success and royal appointments, Jefferys faced financial difficulties, leading to bankruptcy in 1766. His business and map plates were eventually acquired by Robert Sayer and other associates. Upon Jefferys' death in 1771, his workshop passed to his son, Thomas Jr., and his partner, William Faden. Although Jefferys was known primarily as an engraver, producing illustrations and drawings in addition to maps, his contributions to the field of cartography remain his most enduring legacy.
Jefferys had no formal geographical training, and his early work was largely confined to engraving maps compiled by others or revising existing plates. However, his collaboration with John Green, a skilled cartographer also known as Bradock Mead, significantly enhanced his reputation. Mead, an Irishman with a complex personal history, was known for his expertise in map-making and was instrumental in creating some of the detailed maps that Jefferys published, including the influential New Map of Nova Scotia and Cape Britain in 1755. Mead's work underpinned much of Jefferys' acclaim as a leading map publisher of his time.
From 1750 onwards, Jefferys began to focus on maps of America, a region of increasing interest to British audiences. His notable works included a series of maps detailing North America, which bolstered his reputation as the preeminent map and chart supplier of his era. He continued to produce maps even after his financial collapse, but his later years were marked by financial instability. Despite this, his maps were in high demand and were republished by Sayer and Bennett, his former associates, who continued to use Jefferys' name to ensure commercial success.
Jefferys' legacy is characterized by his comprehensive atlases and detailed maps that captured the geographic and political landscapes of the 18th century. His work remains significant not only for its historical and cartographic value but also for its role in the broader narrative of colonial expansion and exploration. His contributions, preserved through subsequent editions and reprints, solidified his place as one of the leading figures in the history of cartography.
Thomas Jefferys (c. 1719–1771) was a prolific map publisher, engraver, and cartographer based in London, known for his significant contributions to the cartography of North America and the West Indies during the 18th century. Jefferys was born to a cutler but was apprenticed to Emanuel Bowen, a prominent mapmaker and engraver. He gained his freedom from the Merchant Taylors’ Company in 1744, although he had already produced maps under his name as early as 1732. Throughout his career, Jefferys collaborated with several partners, including Thomas Kitchin, with whom he published The Small English Atlas in 1748-9, and Robert Sayer, with whom he co-created A General Topography of North America in 1768. Sayer also published posthumous collections featuring Jefferys' work, such as The American Atlas, The North-American Pilot, and The West-India Atlas.
Jefferys served as the Geographer to Frederick, Prince of Wales, and from 1760, to King George III. His role primarily involved supplying maps to the royal family, particularly during the height of the Seven Years' War, which spurred demand for detailed and accurate maps of North America. Jefferys not only sold maps commercially but also maintained connections with government bodies for whom he produced specialized materials, further solidifying his status in the map trade.
Despite his success and royal appointments, Jefferys faced financial difficulties, leading to bankruptcy in 1766. His business and map plates were eventually acquired by Robert Sayer and other associates. Upon Jefferys' death in 1771, his workshop passed to his son, Thomas Jr., and his partner, William Faden. Although Jefferys was known primarily as an engraver, producing illustrations and drawings in addition to maps, his contributions to the field of cartography remain his most enduring legacy.
Jefferys had no formal geographical training, and his early work was largely confined to engraving maps compiled by others or revising existing plates. However, his collaboration with John Green, a skilled cartographer also known as Bradock Mead, significantly enhanced his reputation. Mead, an Irishman with a complex personal history, was known for his expertise in map-making and was instrumental in creating some of the detailed maps that Jefferys published, including the influential New Map of Nova Scotia and Cape Britain in 1755. Mead's work underpinned much of Jefferys' acclaim as a leading map publisher of his time.
From 1750 onwards, Jefferys began to focus on maps of America, a region of increasing interest to British audiences. His notable works included a series of maps detailing North America, which bolstered his reputation as the preeminent map and chart supplier of his era. He continued to produce maps even after his financial collapse, but his later years were marked by financial instability. Despite this, his maps were in high demand and were republished by Sayer and Bennett, his former associates, who continued to use Jefferys' name to ensure commercial success.
Jefferys' legacy is characterized by his comprehensive atlases and detailed maps that captured the geographic and political landscapes of the 18th century. His work remains significant not only for its historical and cartographic value but also for its role in the broader narrative of colonial expansion and exploration. His contributions, preserved through subsequent editions and reprints, solidified his place as one of the leading figures in the history of cartography.
![Porto Rico and Virgin Islands [with] Haiti, Hispaniola or St. Domingo](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/78402.jpg)
