Dr. John Lorimer was a land speculator who owned a thousand acres on Thompson’s Creek, Mississippi and a second grant north of Natchez, Mississippi. “Original Grantee/Claimant: Doctor John Lorimer, 2000 acres, Walnut Hills. Patent date: May 6, 1776.” At the time Pensacola surrendered to the Spanish, Dr. Lorimer was listed as a Magistrate. In 1778, Peter Chester, Governor of the British Colony of West Florida, appointed Dr. Lorimer as a "Botanist" for the Province of West Florida. In 1774, Dr. Lorimer went on an expedition up the Mississippi River to map the western boundary of the Colony of West Florida from the mouth of the Yazoo River to Bayou Manchac. He went along with George Gauld and Thomas Hutchins not only because he was a surgeon, but also because his mathematical skills for determining latitude and longitude were greatly desired. “The latitudes of the entrance of the river Yazou, Natchez, Manchac and some other parts of the river were taken by Doctor Lorimer, which were a great correction and satisfaction in laying down this plan.” Afterwards, Thomas Hutchins would publish several publications about his experiences and observations in West Florida. Regretfully, he used and re-published much of the written materials and charts produced by Dr. Lorimer, George Gauld and Lieutenant Philip Pittman under his own name. So would the colonial naturalist Bernard Romans. Even in those days of loose copyright laws, using other people’s creations was well known. In correspondence with General Thomas Gage, General Frederick Haldimand sent him some of George Gauld’s maps along with his report, with the proviso that no one else should copy the maps drawn by Gauld.
Lorimer, John. 1795. A concise essay on magnetism; with an account of the declination and inclination of the magnetic needle; and an attempt to ascertain the cause of the variation thereof. By John Lorimer. London: Printed for the author, and sold by W. Faden.
Lorimer, Dr. J. 1775. “Description of a New Dipping Needle. By Mr. J. Lorimer, of Pensacola, in a Letter to Sir John Pringle, Bart., PRS.” The Royal Society: Philosophical Transactions. Volume LXV. Pages 79–84.. URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/106178.
“Map of the Mississippi River from the Mouth of the Yazoo River to the southern part of Louisiana.” 1774. Manuscript, pen, ink, pencil and water color. Col. Map 244 X 121 cm.. Scale 1:126,720; 2 English miles to an inch. Relief shown by hachures. Shows campsites of the expedition with dates. Includes descriptive text. Library of Congress Map: G4042 1774.M3 Vault. LC copy imperfect: upper right corner missing. Notes: “The latitudes of the entrance of the river Yazou, Natchez, Manchac and some other parts of the river were taken by Doctor Lorimer, which were a great correction and satisfaction in laying down this plan.” Library of Congress- Geography and Map Division. LCCN: 74-696154/MAPS.
