Jeremiah Dixon (27 July 1733 – 22 January 1779),[1] British surveyor and astronomer, created the Mason–Dixon line with Charles Mason, from 1763 to 1767, which became significant during the American Civil War.

Early in life he became acquaintanced with the eminent intellectuals of Southern Durham: mathematician William Emerson, and astronomers John Bird and Thomas Wright.

Dixon was recommended to assist Charles Mason in 1761, likely by astronomer John Bird, an active Fellow of the Royal Society.

Dixon and Mason signed an agreement in 1763 with the proprietors of Pennsylvania and Maryland, Thomas Penn and Frederick Calvert, sixth Baron Baltimore, to assist with resolving a boundary dispute between the two provinces.

The survey was not complete until late 1766, following which they stayed on to measure a degree of Earth's meridian on the Delmarva Peninsula in Maryland, on behalf of the Royal Society.

The two split up, with Dixon at Hammerfest Island and Bayly at North Cape, in order to minimize the possibility of inclement weather obstructing their measurements.

Following their return to England in July, Dixon resumed his work as a surveyor in Durham, surveying the park of Auckland Castle and Lanchester Common.

Bemused by this curiosity, Baron Barnard's guests bet £200 that George would not refuse his master; when he did, they commissioned Sir Joshua Reynolds to paint a portrait of George "An Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile" and a quote from Horace "Fortis & in seeps totes trees ate rotunds" ("strong to restrain immoderate desires, lightly esteeming public honours, a self-reliant and courteous man").

Although he was recognised as a Quaker, he was known to violate rules by wearing a long red coat (possibly from the Royal Woolwich Academy) and occasionally drinking to excess.

The song Sailing to Philadelphia from Mark Knopfler's album of the same name, also refers to Mason and Dixon, and was inspired by Pynchon's book.