Purdy, John, 1773-1843

John Purdy was born in 1773 in Norwich, England, the son of a bookseller. Interested in naval charts from an early age, he was appointed hydrographer for Messrs. Laurie & Whittle in London. Purdy does not appear to have participated in any Hydrographic expeditions himself, confining himself to compiling charts and writing navigational aids based on reports from others. He eventually became the foremost Hydrographic authority of his time. He died on 29 January 1843.

Published work, Memoir descriptive and explanatory to accompany the charts of the northern Atlantic Ocean, and comprising instructions, general and particular for the navigation of that sea by John Purdy, R. H. Laurie London (1845) SPRI Library Shelf Special Collection 656.61.05 [Great Britain] The new sailing directory for the Ethiopic or Southern Atlantic Ocean, including the coast of Brasil, etc. to the Rio de la Plata, the coast thence the Cape Horn, and the African coast to the Cape of Good Hope etc.; including the islands between the two coasts ... Composed and arranged from a great many original and valuable communications, as enumerated in the work by John Purdy, R. H. Laurie London (1837) SPRI Library Shelf Special Collection 656.61.05

From the guide to the John Purdy collection, 1832-1833, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)