Arthur H. Robinson

Arthur H. Robinson (January 5, 1915 – October 10, 2004) was an influential American geographer and cartographer who made significant contributions to the field of map making and geography. He is best known for the development of the Robinson projection, a map projection that was designed to find a compromise between minimizing distortion in all aspects: area, direction, distance, and shape. This projection was introduced in 1963 and has been widely used for world maps, notably by the National Geographic Society from 1988 to 1998.

Early Life and Education

Arthur H. Robinson was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, but his family moved to the United States when he was a child. He pursued his higher education in the United States, earning a Bachelor's degree in history from Miami University in Ohio. His interest in geography was sparked by his work in the map division of the Library of Congress while he was a student. Robinson furthered his education at Ohio State University, where he obtained both his Master's and Ph.D. degrees in geography.

Career

Robinson's career was distinguished by his tenure at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he taught and conducted research from 1947 until his retirement in 1980. During World War II, he served in the Army Map Service, where he gained significant experience in cartography. This experience was instrumental in his development of the Robinson projection.

In addition to the Robinson projection, he contributed to the field through his work on the theory of map design and the analysis of map use. He authored several influential books and articles, including "The Look of Maps: An Examination of Cartographic Design" (1952) and "Elements of Cartography" (1953), the latter of which has been a standard textbook in cartography courses for many decades.

Robinson Projection

The Robinson projection was created as a response to the need for a map that could represent the world with a low level of distortion in all key aspects. Unlike the Mercator projection, which significantly distorts size in favor of preserving angles, the Robinson projection aims to create a more balanced view of the world. It is a compromise projection, meaning it does not perfectly preserve any single attribute but instead offers a visually pleasing and practical representation of the Earth.

Legacy

Arthur H. Robinson's contributions to cartography and geography are widely recognized. The American Geographical Society awarded him the Van Cleef Medal in 1981, and the Association of American Geographers honored him with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. His work continues to influence the fields of cartography and geography, and the Robinson projection remains popular for thematic and educational world maps.

Selected Publications

• "The Look of Maps: An Examination of Cartographic Design" (1952)
• "Elements of Cartography" (1953)
• "Early Thematic Mapping in the History of Cartography" (1982)

See Also

• Map projection
• Cartography
• Geography