New York from Long Island - Illustration circa 1800

Illustration (to the right) drawn by John Wood around 1800, showing a scene on the coast of Long Island (Brooklyn) with New York City in the background. Engraved by W. Rollinfon. Source: Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.

The skyline of Manhattan is shown across the East River, from the Battery to about Chambers Street. We can see the towers of Trinity Church, First Presbyterian Church, Federal Hall, Middle Dutch Church with its clock tower, St. Paul's Chapel dwarfs the square tower of the North Dutch Church, the Brick Presbyterian Church and, on the far right, St. George's Church.

John Wood was born in Scotland in 1775 and arrived in the United States around the turn of the 19th century. He was a teacher, author, map maker and bookseller. Around 1810, he moved to Virginia and was made the official cartographer of the state.