John Speed
John Speed (
1542-
1629) was a
historian, now best remembered as the
cartographer whose maps of English counties are often found framed in homes throughout the UK. He was born in
Cheshire, and went into his father's tailoring business. While working in
London, his knowledge of history led him into learned circles, and it was with the encouragement of
William Camden that he began his
Historie of Great Britaine, which was published in
1611. Although Speed probably had access to historical sources that are now lost to us, his work as a historian is considered mediocre and secondary in importance to his map-making.