Jacques Nicolas Bellin

Jacques Nicolas Bellin worked for the French Hydrographic Office (Dépôt des Cartes et Plans de la Marine) from its inception in 1720 until his death in 1772. Under his control the Hydrographic Office developed a reputation for excellent and reliable charts. Bellin spent over fifty years at the French Hydrographic Office where he coordinated surveys initially of the French coast, and later of all the known coasts of the world. It was due to his high quality charts that Bellin was appointed 'Hydrographer to the King'. His work provided an example to chart makers from other countries, notably Britain's Alexander Dalrymple, the first hydrographer to the Admiralty.