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Sep 8, 2004
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George Vancouver: The Discovery
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Issue:
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Sept / Oct 2004
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Author:
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K.E. Heaton
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George Vancouver was born in Norfolk, England in 1757. His father, John Vancouver, was a customs collector at the King’s Lynn seaport and during his years there he made many acquaintances and connections. One of these connections was Captain James Cook. So it was this connection surely that George Vancouver, starting in 1771, became a midshipman on one of Cooks ships, the Resolution, during his famed second and third voyages.
In 1790, after many successful years learning the seafaring trade, he was promoted to commander on the vessel HMS Discovery. This new vessel was being built as a merchant ship but was bought by the Admiralty for the purpose of the surveying the pacific coastline of the Americas. George Vancouver captained this adventure. This vessel was surprisingly small in size at only 29 meters and 337 tons. She was rated as a sloop but ship rigged for Vancouver’s voyage. Her crew numbered over 100.
This voyage had three purposes. First they were to meet the Spanish commissioner at Nootka to settle the uprising there as the Spanish had declared sovereignty over the lands. Secondly they were to explore the Pacific Coastline from California to Alaska and lastly to see if there was a navigationable passage through the Northwest Passage.
They set sail upon the Discovery, with the smaller vessel Chatham, in April of 1791, following the route that Captain Cook took through Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. This year long voyage had them entering the Straight of Juan de Fuca in April of 1792. With his vast attention to detail, Vancouver spent 3 seasons (summers) mapping the coastline of BC and Alaska when they thought it would take only two. But Vancouver did not want any inlet or bay left undiscovered.
They first explored Puget Sound, whose entrance had been noted by Spanish explorers but not explored. Vancouver was surprised that it took them a month to explore the vast maze of inlets channels and islands in Puget Sound.
They had discovered that they could only travel through it with the small ships boats. This became the norm as they explored the coastline. So with the larger ships safely anchored, they set off in the small boats to survey. Birch Bay was another of these inlets that required the smaller boats. On this part of the exploration they also surveyed the inner waters of Burrard Inlet. They camped for a night outside of Indian Arm. The next day they travelled as far north as Texada Island and Jervis Inlet in search of the continental shore.
When they returned to Birch Bay they discovered two Spanish ships anchored. Cordial relations were established and they cooperated on a joint survey effort. It was during this survey, when Vancouver again found his way into the Pacific Ocean, that he discovered how small Vancouver Island was. They again turned north along the coast and made it to Burke Channel when Vancouver got word that Quadra and the Spanish had arrived at Nootka.
Although the two men did become friends they could not resolve any of their countries issues and could do no more than pass on the issues back to their respective governments. There friendship was marked by Vancouver’s naming of Quadra and Vancouver’s Island which of course today is merely known as Vancouver Island. This is one of about 400 place names bestowed by George Vancouver that still bear their original or modified original name.
Vancouver spent the cold seasons in Hawaii where he made friends with the local chiefs. He spent his time trying to prevent inter island wars and persuade the chiefs to give control over to Great Britain. This was realized but the homeland never paid much heed to their new control as they were much more preoccupied with their own wars – namely the Napoleonic wars.
The second survey season (year), in 1793, they travelled north up to the Alaskan coast and finished off the survey Revillagigedo Island. It was at the end of this survey that they had a disastrous skirmish with the Indians that luckily only resulted in two injuries. Vancouver took the blame saying he didn’t take the proper precautions since up until then any meeting with the Indians had been very friendly.
The third year, they travelled southward instead of farther north. The survey in Alaska began in Cook Inlet and ventured in a bay at the south end of Baranof Island, which Vancouver named Port Conclusion. The survey expedition ended with the knowledge that as far as they had travelled, no Northwest Passage could be found.
The ships then started the long journey home. The Chatham was dispatched on special duty but Vancouver and the Discovery continued on and reached Ireland in September of 1795. Since leaving England in 1791 the ships and crews had travelled close to 105,000 km with only five men not returning. This reflected on how well Vancouver took care of his crews.
Capt. Vancouver’s heath was beginning to fade and he retired to the outskirts of London. The admiralty soon asked him to prepare his journal for publication. He started the task with the help of his brother. Months before publication of his maps and writings he passed away at the still young age of 40.
Though he is gone he is long from forgotten, and each year a wreath from the mayor and city council of Vancouver is laid upon his grave to mark the anniversary of his death.
Written by K.E. Heaton
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