John Ainslie blue plaque

This blue commemorative plaque records: John Ainslie 1745-1828. Born in Jedburgh and buried in the Abbey, he was a surveyor, mapmaker and engraver, apprenticed to the "Geographer to George III". He produced fine maps of the country, the quality of which challenged others to improve their mapping techniques. He wrote the standard text for his profession and was a surveyor on the Forth and Clyde Canal project. Recorded plaque organisation: Royal Burgh of Jedburgh.

John Ainslie was a renowned Scottish surveyor, mapmaker, and engraver whose detailed maps of Scotland set new standards for cartographic accuracy and inspired improvements in mapping techniques. He also contributed to significant infrastructure projects like the Forth and Clyde Canal and authored a seminal text on his profession.