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6 Historical People You Didn't Know Were Land Surveyors - Kudurru Stone

Written by Jessica Whitfield | Aug 23, 2023 5:49:02 PM

 

Get ready for a cool journey into a world where map-making and being famous come together in unexpected ways! We're talking about folks who started with tools for measuring and ended up becoming super well-known. So, let's dive in and discover some stories of famous people who went from measuring land to become some of the most famous figures in history!

 

 

1. George Washington: Mapping His Way to Fame

Imagine this: before George Washington was on money, he was exploring Virginia with tools for measuring. Back in 1749, he was making maps of big areas, connecting dots on new land. These early trips helped him get efficient at strategy, which later helped him lead in the Revolutionary War and become a big deal in making the United States.

 

 

2. Abraham Lincoln: From Land Lines to Great Speeches

 

Yep, it's true! The guy who said the Gettysburg Address was also into marking land. In the early 1800s, Abraham Lincoln was working on maps in Illinois. As he walked around with his measuring tools, he was learning skills that helped him later when he was president. The way he learned to measure helped him make really great speeches that people still talk about.

 

 

3. Thomas Jefferson: Drawing Maps and Building Stuff

 

 

Before Thomas Jefferson wrote important papers, he was making maps. He explored wild places in Virginia and made careful maps with his curious mind. These skills helped him build cool buildings like Monticello and influenced him to believe in democracy. Jefferson's time as a map-maker was like a compass guiding a whole country.

 

 

4. Sir George Everest: Mapping Big Mountains

 

Get this: the guy that the tallest mountain is named after was really into maps. Sir George Everest was a big deal in map-making. He was in charge of mapping India and did a big survey of the area. His work made maps more accurate and even led to naming the world's tallest mountain after him - Mt. Everest!

 

 

5. Ferdinand Hassler: Leading the Way in Mapping

 

You might not know his name, but you should! Ferdinand Hassler changed the way people create maps. He took the Coast Survey in the United States and made it awesome at measuring and cartography. He really cared about being precise, which helped lots of different aspects, not just maps of the coast. Hassler made huge advancements in science and measuring.

 

 

6. Daniel Boone: Drawing Lines and Exploring

 

Daniel Boone isn't just an explorer; he's also a map-maker! He was hired to make maps of Kentucky, but he did more than just draw lines. He showed where landmarks were and even made sure people knew which land belonged to whom. Boone's map-making was almost as famous as his exploring!

 

 

Conclusion: Small Steps to Big Fame

 

So, hold onto your surveying tools and be proud of your profession, because these stories show that even little things can lead to big fame. These map-makers didn't just measure land – they shaped history, turned measuring into something incredibly important -- even made mountains famous! So, next time you're thinking about famous people, remember that even simple beginnings can lead to huge success!

 

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