Edmund March Blunt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edmund March Blunt
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Edmund March Blunt (1770–1862).
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| Born | June 20, 1770 Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States
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| Died | January 4, 1862 (aged 91) Sing Sing, New York, United States
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| Occupation | Navigator, publisher, writer |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Ross |
Edmund March Blunt (born June 20, 1770 – died January 4, 1862) was an amazing American navigator (someone who plans the course of a ship), writer, and publisher. He created a huge company that published books and maps for sailors in the early 1800s.
In 1796, he published a very important book called American Coastal Pilot. This book described every port in the United States, helping ships find their way. He even made a map in 1796 of the islands we now call the Federated States of Micronesia.
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About Edmund March Blunt
Edmund March Blunt was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He later lived in Sing Sing, New York. He had four sons: Nathaniel B., Edmund, George, and Joseph. His son Edmund became a hydrographer, which means he studied and mapped oceans and coastlines. There's even a place called Mount Blunt in Antarctica named after him!
A Publisher for Sailors
Edmund Blunt was very busy in the publishing world. In 1793, he started a newspaper called the Impartial Herald. He worked with a partner at first, but soon became the main publisher.
Later, in 1794, he joined forces with Angier March. They combined the Impartial Herald with another paper, the Morning Star. By 1795, the Impartial Herald was printed twice a week.
In 1796, Blunt sold his part of the newspaper. He then focused on publishing his famous book, the American Coast Pilot. This book was first printed in Newburyport, Massachusetts. It was so important that new versions were published until 1858! The book helped sailors navigate the coasts of the United States.
Blunt also made maps for other parts of the world. He expanded his maps to include the Pacific Ocean and later the Indian Ocean.
Moving to New York
Around 1815, Blunt moved his business to New York City. He opened a shop at 202 Water Street. Here, sailors could buy all sorts of things they needed for their voyages. This included maps, books, and tools like sextants and compasses.
In 1824, two of his sons, George and Edmund, joined him in the family business. Their company was called E. & G. W. Blunt Publishing. They continued to publish Blunt's Coastal Pilot, which was the new name for the American Coast Pilot.
The company eventually closed in 1872. Its important maps and information were then taken over by the U.S. government.
From 1819 to 1826, Edmund Blunt also did surveys of the sea. He mapped areas like the Bahama Islands and the Nantucket Shoals. He even made the first really accurate map of the New York harbor.
Edmund Blunt's Final Years
Edmund March Blunt passed away at his home in Sing Sing, Westchester County, New York. He died on January 4, 1862, when he was 92 years old. His funeral was held at the Presbyterian church in Sing Sing. He was buried at the Sparta Cemetery in Ossining, New York.
