The drawn nautical chart of Manila was unsurpassed in accuracy for 270 years. Who produced it?

• A. Captain William Nicholson
• B. Alexander von Humboldt
• C. Mercator
• D. Abu Rayhan al-Biruni

Answer: (A)

A landmark nautical chart and its creator is the focus here, showing how exceptional surveying can keep a map authoritative for centuries. The Manila chart was produced by Captain William Nicholson, whose careful, ground-truthed surveying of Manila Bay and its approaches produced a level of detail sailors could rely on for navigation over a very long period. Nicholson combined direct observations, soundings, and triangulation to depict coastlines, shoals, channels, depths, and hazards with great accuracy. That depth of precision and practical usefulness made the chart unsurpassed for about 270 years, guiding ships safely into Manila and around its waters long after newer surveying methods emerged. While other figures listed—Mercator, Humboldt, and al-Biruni—are renowned in related fields, none of them created this famous Manila chart.