Compass

This is an image of an open compass. The face of the compass has all the directions in a star pattern. The other side has a star pattern that is surrounded green and red.
John Harris' compass in the Eldon House collection

Country of Origin: Likely England 
Year: ca. 1800s 
Materials: Metal, paper  

John Harris served as a member of the British navy and achieved the rank of ship master. After the end of the War of 1812 John Harris was a member of a Hydrographic Mission to map the Great Lakes. In his role as “Master” he was responsible for the navigation of vessels and mapping the region’s waterways. In the Harris papers at Western Archives is a receipt for the purchase of this compass from another master – John Maxwell, in August of 1815. 

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron. We honour and respect the history, languages and culture of the diverse Indigenous people who call this territory home.

We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.

The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures, and customs.