Editing Penns Original Plan (section)

== Thomas Holme ==

Thomas Holme, Penn's surveyor general, translated the proprietor's vision into the precise plan that guided Philadelphia's development. Holme arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682 and immediately began surveying both the city site and the rural lands that Penn was distributing to investors. The "Portraiture of the City of Philadelphia," published in 1683, presented the plan to prospective settlers and investors, showing the grid extending from river to river with the five squares positioned symmetrically. This plan served as both design document and marketing material, attracting settlers who appreciated its promise of rational urban order.<ref name="weigley"/>

Holme's execution of the plan required considerable technical skill, as laying out a precise grid across varied terrain demanded accurate surveying. The streets and lots he established provided the framework within which subsequent development occurred, their positions largely surviving despite three centuries of change. Holme died in Philadelphia in 1695, having established the physical form that would define the city's growth. His contribution, though less celebrated than Penn's, was essential to translating idealistic intentions into practical urban form.<ref name="gallery"/>