William Faden (1750 - 1836)

William Faden was a cartographer and publisher. He was associated with the prominent map publisher Thomas Jefferys whose business Faden took over after Jefferys's death in 1771, continuing under the name Faden & Jefferys. He also held the position of Geographer to His Majesty the King and the Prince of Wales.

One of his principal interests was the cartography of North America, an example being his 'North American Atlas' for which he is particularly well known.

Faden's work was of a very high standard and he was chosen to produce the very first map for the Ordnance Survey - a map of Kent in four sheets - in 1801.