Gentleman, Soldier, Scholar & Spy: The Napoleonic Era Maps of the Honourable Robert Clifford (1767-1817)

Abstract

This lecture was prepared to coincide with an exhibit of some of McMaster University Library's rare map collection in the McMaster Museum of Art during the summer of 2018. In 1969, McMaster University Librarian, William Ready, travelled to England to acquire material for the Library's archives. He returned with nearly 400 rare maps purchased from the estate of the Late 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley. Although only 59 of these bear the ownership label of Robert Clifford, it is believed that the entire collection may have belonged to him for reasons that will be revealed near the end of this lecture. View the presentation to learn about the extraordinary man behind the Library's most significant collection of maps only rivalled by our WWI collection.