Middleton, Christopher, c.1700 - 1770

Person

Middleton

Christopher

c.1700

1770

mapmaker
publisher

Christopher Middleton had been a Captain employed by the Hudson Bay Company. He was then contracted by Arthur Dobbs, a wealthy Irish Landowner, to search for a North West Passage in the region of north-western Hudson Bay. Middleton's voyage of 1741-42 discouraged belief in a viable passage but Dobbs became convinced of its existence. This extended to believing that Middleton had falsified his findings and he set about discrediting him publicly. This involve the printed word and especially maps. Se.2.03(74A) is the map originally published by Middleton and is the first accurate chart of the west coast of Hudson Bay.