James Gardner (surveyor)

James Gardner FRGS was an English surveyor, lithographer, cartographer, engraver and publisher who played an active role in the trigonometrical survey of Great Britain.

Colonel William Mudge appointed Gardner as a surveyor in 1808, on the recommendation of civil engineer John Rennie.

[1] He was due to remain in the role for two years, but in 1825 Colby advised the Ordnance Board that Gardner's services would be needed for longer.

Colby was asked how long he thought the services of his assistant would need to be retained, but this request was, it seems, overlooked for nine years, during which time Gardner was being paid £105 per annum "for occasional computations".

It was then that James Gardner was first named as a map engraver, possibly under the patronage of his Ordnance Survey colleagues.