Gilles Robert de Vaugondy, the Great Cartographer

Gilles Robert de Vaugondy was born in 1686 and succeeded his uncle, Pierre Sanson, as Geographer to King Louis XV of France.

Gilles and his son, Didier (also a Royal Geographer) produced numerous and well-known maps, atlases, and globes in Paris during the 18th century. Two notable Robert de Vaugondy publications are Atlas Universel (1750-57) and Nouvelle Atlas Portatif (1784).

The Vaugondy name is now must commonly associated with globes made from 18th century cartography. The Vaugondy 1745 globe is the most popular.