John Spilsbury (b. 1739; d. 3 April 1769[1]) was a British mapmaker and engraver. He is credited as the inventor of jigsaw puzzle. He served as an apprentice to Thomas Jefferys, the Royal Geographer to King George III.
Spilsbury created the first puzzle in 1767 as an educational tool to teach geography. He had affixed a world map to wood and carved each country out to create the first puzzle. Sensing a business opportunity, he created puzzles on eight themes - the World, Europe, Asia, Africa, America, England and Wales, Ireland and Scotland.