John Thornton (1641 - 1708)

Mapmaker, publisher and engraver. Born in London in 1641 and apprenticed to the chartmaker John Burston 19 November 1656. He joined the partnership which took over the “English Pilot” project from John Seller in 1677, and apparently taking over the rights in 1679. He supplied Samuel Pepys with books on navigation as well as charts, and was asked by Pepys to compare the various maritime atlases available in 1693.