Sud-ost-Australien.

Mapmaker:

Augustus Heinrich Petermann (1822 – 1898)

In 1847, Petermann moved to London and in 1850 founded his own establishment: TheGeographical Establishment, Engraving, Lithographic and Printing Office.
In 1852 Ernst Georg Ravenstein (1834–1913) was apprenticed to him,
before he went in 1855 into the service of the Topographical Department
of the British War Office.

Petermann’s firm published, among other things, maps for the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society and
through this he established lifelong relationships with many
scientists, politicians and explorers. In 1847, he became a member of
the RGS. When he was 28 in 1850 he was elected under-Secretary. In 1868
he was awarded with the prestigious ‘Founders medal’ of the RGS. Queen
Victoria, at the suggestion of Robert Bunsen, appointed him ‘physical
geographer-royal’. Early in his career, Petermann already wanted to
further the cause of geographical exploration as shown by his concern
for and interference with James Richardson’s expedition. The purpose of
this expedition, which was supported by the British government, was to
negotiate trade treaties with the rulers of the middle Sudan. Petermann,
supported by Carl Ritter and Robert Bunsen, pleaded with the British
government to let Heinrich Barth and Adolf Overweg join up with
Richardson’s expedition to assure that geographical and scientific
aspects which they might encounter were taken care of. When still
affiliated with the Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Erdkunde, he published
their progress in this journal, and when he started his very
influential,Petermanns geographische Mitteilungen.

This journal, which still exists
today, greatly influenced the development of scientific geography and
cartography in Germany in the nineteenth century. Numerous articles have
been published by recognized experts in this field, along with a
multitude of illustrations, showing maps, prints and photographs. The
journal developed into an important publication, setting the standard in
the history of the great expeditions and discoveries, and European
colonial matters.

His long stay in Britain made him
familiar with the best in British and German geography, and as he was
fluent in both languages and having learnt French helped him to read
widely.