About George Vancouver

George Vancouver was born June 22, 1757 at King's Lynn, Norfolk, England. At the age of 14 he joined the Royal Navy and served as a ableseaman during Captain James Cook's second and third voyages to the Pacific Coast (1772-75 and 1776-80). He thus accompanied Cook on his visit to the Northwest Coast in 1778. Following nine years of service in the West Indies (beginning in 1782) the British government assigned to him a three-fold mission: to implement the Nootka Sound Convention, to explore the Pacific waters of North America, and to locate a Northwest Passage through British North America. Vancouver's ships were the Discovery, 337 tons (not Cook's ship of the same name—a new vessel specially purchased and outfitted), and the much smaller Chatham.

Vancouver commanding the Discovery, and William Broughton on the Chatham, left England on April 1, 1791 and sighted the west coast of North America in April of 1792, close to the time when the American Robert Gray first located the mouth of the Columbia River. Vancouver and his crews meticulously surveyed and documented the Pacific Coast from San Francisco to Vancouver Island, including Puget Sound, so named for crew member Peter Puget. (Puget was named Captain of the Chatham after Broughton was sent back to London to convey information regarding the Nootka Convention.) Vancouver's survey's proved that an easily navigable Northwest Passage did not exist, but in the process he named innumerable Pacific Northwest landmarks. He also strengthened British claims to the territory and left behind detailed records of the coastline for later navigators. His account suggests that he was constantly aware of his Spanish and American rivals. Vancouver returned to England on October 20, 1794, and died in Petersham England on May 10, 1798 at the age of forty.

His brother published the account of the voyage, including maps, texts, and illustrations following the explorer's death.

His Discoveries

Vancouver left from Falmouth, England on April 1, 1791 with 100 men. His fleet comprised two vessels the Discovery and the Chatham. It took the voyagers a full year of sailing to reach the starting point of their expedition, a point just north of San Francisco Bay. Vancouver's precise nature is indicated by the fact that before anything else he took 85 lunar observations in order to establish his position with certainty.

Vancouver would work directly from his ships if possible, making slow advance as he plotted the harbours. Vancouver was meticulous in his work. At one point he and his officers rowed 700 miles into fjords in order to plot their outline. An average advance rate for the ships, however, was just five miles per day.

He reached the Strait of Juan de Fuca in May of 1792. After surveying this area he moved on to Puget Sound where he made extensive surveys. This area is named after Lieutenant Peter Puget of the Discovery. Sailing north Vancouver discovered that Vancouver Island was actually separated from the mainland, and that the body of water they were sailing in did not lead to a northwest passage. In the area of Point Grey and Burrard Inlet Vancouver met with Valdes and Galiano, and they proceeded together sailing northward as far as Queen Charlotte Sound. Vancouver then sailed down the west coast of the island to accept secession documents from the Spanish who had occupied the territory since 1789. Vancouver is credited with completing the circumnavigation of Vancouver Island.

His accomplishments are remembered in the naming of Vancouver Island and the city of Vancouver.

During the harsh Canadian winters, the voyagers would spend their time in Hawaii. But still, for Vancouver there was no rest. He made the first accurate survey of the Hawaiian islands. In the Spring he and his men returned to charting the Pacific Coast of Canada. Three years after they had set off from England the map makers came to the end of their assignment. The plotting concluded at Port Conclusion, which is in Alaska. It took until October of 1795 for them to return home to England. In the four and a half years he had been away, Vancouver had mapped 1,700 miles of shore line. He also circumnavigated an island that was later named in his honor. In the process he had pushed his men to the limit. They had sailed about 65,000 miles and rowed another 10,000 miles

(excerpt from:- The amazing exploits of Captain George Vancouver, author unknown)