About John Melish
Lived 1771 – 1822 (aged 51). John Melish was a geographer, cartographer, map maker and historian.
Early life
Melish was born in Scotland on June 13, 1771. finally settling in Philadelphia in 1811. A year later, he published Travels through the United States of America, in the years 1806 & 1807, and 1809, 1810, & 1811 documenting his voyages to the US with copious maps. His maps were inspired by his travels and fulfilled a contemporary need for accurate cartography. US President Thomas Jefferson took note of Melish's maps, sending copies to associates in Europe. In 1816, Melish published an important map, Map of the United States with the contiguous British and Spanish Possessions, which depicted the United States from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, thus implicitly staking a larger claim for the US than existed at that time.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in John Melish's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Melish's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Melish?
American geographer
When was John Melish born?
John Melish was born on 13 June 1771 in Scotland.
When did John Melish die?
John Melish died on 30 December 1822 in Philadelphia.
What was John Melish's occupation?
John Melish was a geographer, cartographer, map maker and historian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Melish. https://biography.guide/john-melish/
MLA: "John Melish." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-melish/.
Chicago: "John Melish." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-melish/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:13 UTC