hand colored map of north America

The north part of America...

Henry Briggs

1625

Tragically, 40,000 citizens of London lost their lives to the bubonic plague in 1625. That same year, English mathematician Henry Briggs created this map, widely known for being the first English map to depict California as an island. Also clearly identifiable is Virginia, named an English royal colony in 1624 following the failure of the Virginia Company.

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