John Speed Biography


Portrait of John Speed taken from John Speed's Canaan, his only known wall map. Stephen Luck, owner of Tooley Adams & Co., supplied this image and describes it as from the bottom right sheet of an eight-sheet map of the Holy Land. The portrait may be by C. Lacey

Download a timeline of significant English and World events 1540-1700 (Excel spreadsheet)

   1551/2 John Speed born in Farndon in Cheshire (Chester)

   1557/8 Future wife, Susanna Draper, born London

   1558 Nov. 17th Queen Elizabeth I Ascends to the throne. Age 25 years.

   1564 Apr. 26th (est.) William Shakespeare born,

   1567 Speed's father rents a sizable house from St. Paul's, London

   1570 Sept. 10th Speed becomes a Freeman by patrimony Merchant Taylor Company

   1572 Marries Susanna (age 13) and they have 18 children (12 sons & 6 daughters)

   1578 Ann Speed born.

   1580 Joan Speed born. Died February 1645.

   1580 Edward Blackmore Speed born.

   1582 William Speed born

   1590 Adam Speed born.

   1592 Publishes Genealogies with Hugh Broughton

   1592 Leases two tenements in St. Paul's Churchyard, London

   1593 Sarah Speed born

   1595 January John Speed (Jr.) born. Died 1640.

   1595 Wall Map of Canaan

   1598 Obtains an allowance from Sir Fulke Greville, Treasurer of the Royal Navy

   1598 Presents maps to Queen Elizabeth

   1598 June 15th, Queen Elizabeth gives Speed position of customs waiter
           and a room in the Custom-House

   1598 Creates portrait of Chaucer for Thomas Speght's works of Chaucer. Used until 1687.

   1600 Speed gives several maps to The Merchant Taylors' Company

c.1601 Invasions of England and Ireland map (4 sheets)

   1603 James Speed born

   1603 March 24th Queen Elizabeth I Dies at Richmond Palace, Surrey Age 69 years.

   1603 March 24th King James I Ascends to the throne. Age 36 years.

   1606 Speed granted a coat of arms by James I for his Genealogies and maps.

   1606 Befriends Robert Cotton (library), William Smith (source of heraldry),
           and William Camden (an intellectual and a founder of the Society of Antiquaries)

   1607 April 27th William Camden introduces Speed to Jodocus Hondius (engraver for Mercator
           and married to Pieter van den Keere's sister)

   1611 Engraved copper plates sent to England from Holland. William Hall & John Beale begin type-setting

   1611 Publishes Historie of Great Britain, major work with the Theatre

   1611 Folio Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine (67 county maps) / published by William Sudbury & George Humble

   1611 Speed's Map of Canaan with Speed's Genealogies first issued bound with the first edition of the King James Bible

   1613 July 1st Speed resigns. Surrender of the office of attendant on the King
           in the port of London.

   1614 Folio Theatre published by William Sudbury and George Humble

   1616 Apr. 23rd (est.) William Shakespeare dies Stratford-upon-Avon. Age 52 years.

   1616 Folio Theatre Latin edition published by William Sudbury and George Humble

c.1619-20 Miniature Theatre (oblong octavo) by Pieter van den Keere

   1623 Folio Theatre published by George Humble

   1625 March 27th King James I dies in Herefordshire.

   1627 Folio Theatre with the Prospect published by George Humble
           Theatre 40 shillings bound, 30 shillings unbound.
           History 30 shillings bound, 20 shillings unbound.

   1627 Miniature Theatre George Humble added 23 plates to Pieter van den Keere's atlas

   1628 March 28th Susanna Speed dies after 57 years of marriage and 18 children. Age 70.2 years.

   1629 July 28th John Speed dies in London having suffered from blindness and gallstones. Age 77.5 years.

   1631-32 Folio Theatre with Prospect published by George Humble

   1646 Folio Theatre with Prospect published by William Humble

   1646 Miniature Theatre with Prospect added to it published

   1654 Theatre with Prospect published by William Humble

   1662-1665 Folio Theatre with Prospect published by Roger Rea

   1662 Miniature Theatre with Prospect

   1665 Miniature Theatre with Prospect

   1666 September Great Fire of London

   1668 Miniature Theatre with Prospect

   1676 Miniature Theatre with Prospect

   1676 Folio Theatre with Prospect published by Thomas Basset and Richard Chiswell

   1680-81 / Christopher Brown

   1700 John Overton acquires Speed copper plates.

   1708 Henry Overton publishes Speed's maps anonymously. Added roads.

   1770 Last edition published by Cluer Dicey & Co.


John Speed's tomb in the Church of St. Giles in Cripplegate. Born in Farndon in Cheshire in 1552. Died July 28th, 1629. Age 77.