John Montresor (22 April 1736 – June 1799) was a British Army officer and cartographer who served in North America during the American War of Independence. Born in Gibraltar, he learned the principles of engineering from his father and served as an assistant engineer at Gibraltar in his late teens.
Montresor participated in significant battles in the Seven Years’ War and the American Revolutionary War. He was present at Lexington and Concord, laid out a redoubt on Bunker Hill, fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill, and served as an aide to William Howe at the Battle of Long Island. He also directed the artillery at the Battle of Brandywine and was present at the Battle of Germantown.
In addition to his military service, Montresor was a prolific surveyor and mapmaker, drawing as many as two thousand maps during his career in America. His maps and surveys were critical to the British war effort and have provided valuable insights for historians studying the period.
