John Spilsbury (cartographer)

John Spilsbury (/I.P.A. spɪlsbəri/ 1739 – 3 April 1769)^[1] was a British cartographer and engraver. He is credited as the inventor of the jigsaw puzzle. Spilsbury created them for educational purposes, and called them "Dissected Maps".^[2][3]

John Spilsbury
Born	1739
Died	3 April 1769(1769-04-03) (aged 29–30)
Nationality	British
Occupation	Cartographer
Known for	Inventor of the jigsaw puzzle

"Europe divided into its kingdoms, etc." (1766) Believed to be the first purpose-made jigsaw puzzle

Life and works

John Spilsbury was the second of three sons of Thomas Spilsbury; the engraver Jonathan Spilsbury was his elder brother, and the two have sometimes been confused.^[4] He served as an apprentice to Thomas Jefferys, the Royal Geographer to King George III.

Spilsbury created the first puzzle in 1766 as an educational tool to teach geography. He affixed a world map to wood and carved each country out to create the first puzzle. Sensing a business opportunity, he created puzzles on eight themes - the World, Europe, Asia, Africa, America, England and Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.

Spilsbury married Sarah May of Newmarket, Suffolk in 1761. After his death she ran his business for a period, then married Harry Ashby who had been apprentice to Spilsbury, and who continued to sell puzzles.^[4]