Rocque, John, 1704?–1762, land surveyor and cartographer

Rocque, John (1704?–1762), land surveyor and cartographer, was born in France. Between 1734 and 1740 Rocque established his name as a 'dessinateur des jardins', publishing elaborate plans of gardens, generally including views of the aristocratic houses to which they belonged and drawings of other garden features. These estates were mostly around London and included the royal parks and gardens at Richmond (1734), Kensington (1736), and Windsor (1738). Rocque's survey of London was planned with George Vertue, surveyed from 1738, engraved by John Pine, and published in twenty-four sheets in 1746. It was the outstanding plan of the capital in the eighteenth century. From 1754-1760 he worked in Dublin. From 1751 Rocque styled himself chorographer or topographer to the prince of Wales and from 1760 to the king. He died on 27 January 1762.

London, Bristol, Exeter, Shrewsbury, Dublin, Kilkenny, and Cork

ISAAR(CPF): International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families, International Council on Archives (2nd edition, 2003); Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names, National Council on Archives (1997).

Created by Duncan Birrell, February 2018

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography