10 Comments

John Mitchell sure was confused where was he from and how did he become an authority?

Expand full comment

A botanist and sickly physician from a wealthy Virginia family who went to London and there decided to draw his map to convince the British of the threat of French colonialists in the north. Not a professional map-maker but considered himself a geographer. Thanks for the question. I love these deep dives into maps, meaning and memory of place. Thanks for reading and restacking!

Expand full comment

“Considered himself a geographer,,,” being a botanist and doctor I guess he could do whatever he wanted. Never ceases to amaze me how much power and license these fellas asserted.

Expand full comment

Educated at Edinburgh University, he was born into power; the diploma gave him license, eh?

Expand full comment

Fascinating Jill, I had no idea about that little chimney in Minnesota.

Expand full comment

I'm still trying to find out how it came to be called a "chimney" but that's what everyone in Minnesota referred to that shape on the map when I was a kid.

Expand full comment

Especially since it’s surrounded by water and Canada.

Expand full comment

I looked it up as a geographical term and it is considered a pene-exclave. Not an enclave, but related notion. The lake is the center of a whole community white settlers didn't consider in dividing up lands they "discovered."

Expand full comment

🙄

Expand full comment

The puzzle pieces of land have such complicated and inconsistent histories!

Expand full comment