John Frederick Anthony Symonds (10 December 1813 – 9 August 1852) was a British Army officer and surveyor who carried out the first detailed survey of Palestine, together with Edward Aldrich.

[4] Following the intervention of the western powers in Syria and Palestine as a result of increasing tensions between Egypt and the Ottoman Empire Lieutenant Symonds was sent to the area in 1840.

After surveying coastal forts he was sent to Jerusalem in early 1841, where he prepared an accurate map of the city.

In spite of the arduous conditions and sickness which affected the whole team, the exercise was completed in 10 weeks.

[5] In 1843 he was awarded the Patron's Medal of the Royal Geographical Society for "his triangulation over Palestine and for his determination of the difference between the level of the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea".