Thomas Kitchin was an English engraver and map-maker, who became hydrographer to the king.

Life

He was born in Southwark

Southwark

Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...

, and was apprenticed to Emanuel Bowen

Emanuel Bowen

Emanuel Bowen was an English map engraver, who worked for George II of England and Louis XV of France as a geographerHe published a 'Complete Atlas of Geography,' 1744-7; an 'English Atlas, with a new set of maps,' 1745; a 'Complete Atlas .....

 in 1732. Originally based in Clerkenwell

Clerkenwell

Clerkenwell is an area of central London in the London Borough of Islington. From 1900 to 1965 it was part of the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury. The well after which it was named was rediscovered in 1924. The watchmaking and watch repairing trades were once of great importance...

, by late 1755 Kitchin was established on Holborn Hill

Holborn Hill

Holborn Hill is a ward in the town of Millom, in Cumbria, England. Historically it was a village in the administrative county of Cumberland and predates Millom. In 2001 the population of the ward was 2,562, living in 1,083 households.-History:...

. From 1773 Kitchin was royal hydrographer to the king. He died in St Albans

St Albans

St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...

 23 June 1784. He married Sarah Bowen, daughter of Emanuel, in 1739, and then Jane, daughter of Joseph Burroughs

Joseph Burroughs

-Biography:He was born in London, on 1 January 1685, of wealthy parents, his father being Humphreys Burroughs. He was educated under Rev. John Kerr, M.D. , at Highgate, where he was class-fellow with John Ward; and at the university of Leyden. In 1714 he received a call to be co-pastor with Richard...

, in 1762.

Works

He produced John Elphinstone

John Elphinstone

John Elphinstone, also known as John Elphinston, , was a senior British naval officer who worked closely with the Russian Navy after 1770, with approval from the Admiralty, during the period of naval reform under Russian Empress Catherine II...

's map of Scotland (1746), Geographia Scotiae (1749), and The Small English Atlas (1749) with Thomas Jefferys

Thomas Jefferys

Thomas Jefferys , "Geographer to King George III", was an English cartographer who was the leading map supplier of his day. He engraved and printed maps for government and other official bodies and produced a wide range of commercial maps and atlases, especially of North America.-Early work:As...

. The Large English Atlas (with Bowen 1749–60) was a serious attempt to cover England at large scale. In 1755 Kitchin engraved the Mitchell Map

Mitchell Map

The Mitchell Map is a map made by John Mitchell , which was reprinted several times during the second half of the 18th century. The Mitchell Map was used as a primary map source during the Treaty of Paris for defining the boundaries of the newly independent United States...

 map of North America. He produced 170 maps for the London Magazine

London Magazine

The London Magazine is a historied publication of arts, literature and miscellaneous interests. Its history ranges nearly three centuries and several reincarnations, publishing the likes of William Wordsworth, William S...

(1747–83).