The first biography of William Roy, exploring his life, career and legacy

Considers the influences on William Roy and his work by examining the people in his circle, including some of the most famous scientists and explorers of the day
Reviews the importance of the Military Survey of Scotland to the history of cartography
Considers the significance of his experiments in measuring heights by barometric pressure
Re-assesses – for the first time since 1917 - his important contribution to British archaeology

Born in Clydesdale, William Roy was a polymath and a visionary. His work established the path that would lead to the formation of the Ordnance Survey and to all of the paper-based and digital mapping products that we use today. His story – very much one of the Enlightenment – demonstrates how one man’s curiosity and diligence enabled him to excel across a diverse range of topics: military reconnaissance and intelligence; the lessons that could be learned from the past about the tactical use of landscape; the science of determining the height of mountains; and the development of a meticulous methodology to achieve an unprecedented accuracy in topographical measurement. In this biography, Humphrey Welfare uncovers the career and activities of this important figure, and in doing so paints a vivid picture of the inner complexities of 18th-century Britain.