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HE SKY
T
he story of Bonnie Prince Charlie,the Young Pretender,and his part in
the JacobiteRising of 1745, aimed at restoring the Stuart monarchy,is
well known. Less commonly appreciated is the consternation in the
British military that detailed maps of the Scottish Highlands, which
were perceived as vital in countering the threat, were in short supply
in the mid-18th century.Just afew years later,asthe French Revolution
upset the status quo across the Channel andpotentially around the globe,
fears grew of an invasion of Britain. Again, mapping came to the fore,asthe
shortage of maps of the south coast became evident to the armed forces.
TheOrdnance Surveycites these two events as being instrumental in its
foundation in 1791.
