George Vancouver English navigator and explorer Date of Birth: 22.06.1758 Country: Great Britain

Biography of George Vancouver

George Vancouver was an English navigator and explorer who made significant contributions to maritime cartography. His life was filled with adventures, and numerous books and articles have been written about him. One short episode from his life can give us a glimpse into the kind of person he was.

During a voyage on the ship James Cook, the crew attempted to reach the South Pole without realizing that a vast continent covered in ice lay ahead. When storms, cold weather, and ice made progress impossible and the order to turn back was given, a young sailor risked his life and climbed to the very end of the ship's bowsprit. Why did he do it? George Vancouver later said that he was closer to the South Pole than anyone else on Earth. It was his persistence in achieving his goals and his ability to find unconventional solutions that set Vancouver apart.

George Vancouver was born in England in 1757 to a family of a customs inspector. His family had few opportunities, and a career as a naval officer offered George a difficult but guaranteed path to success. Becoming an officer, let alone a captain, was not easy during those times. Naval service began at the age of 14, and in order to pass the examination for lieutenant, one had to spend at least six years at sea. Six years away from home, battling storms, scurvy, and encounters with natives from distant islands... George was fortunate enough to serve under the command of the great Captain James Cook, with whom he embarked on his first voyages. They visited New Zealand, Tahiti, Kamchatka, Alaska, and finally, Hawaii. It was George Vancouver who risked his own life to retrieve Cook's dismembered body, which was then returned to the ocean.

After this tragic journey, Vancouver found himself in the Caribbean, now as a military officer. He was then appointed captain of the Discovery, the same ship he had sailed on with Cook, and sent on a prolonged expedition to explore the very lands we now inhabit - the west coast of the United States and Canada. The main goal of the expedition was to find a passage between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, which, according to the beliefs of that time, should have been located in the Fraser River area. Information about this desired waterway, which would have allowed sailors to avoid the long and dangerous route around Cape Horn, had spread around the world from Juan de Fuca, a Greek serving Spain. Juan de Fuca not only claimed to have found the passage but also claimed to have sailed through it. However, he was captured by pirates, and he could not provide any further details, leaving behind only a convincing description of the imaginary strait. Both England and Spain sent ships in search of this passage. By the end of the 18th century, the ownership of the North American west coast was highly disputed. No country had enough resources and people to settle such vast territories. As a result, the entire region from California to Alaska was a patchwork of tiny fort settlements belonging to Spain, England, and Russia. In addition, young citizens of the United States were advancing from the continent. When English sailors landed on the coast, they proudly raised their flag, only to discover, to their surprise, that just around the corner, another flag flew - Spanish or Russian. Clearly, the situation was tense, and Captain Vancouver had to be not only a sailor but also a diplomat. He successfully navigated through all the precarious and ambiguous situations with a combination of persistence and firmness, as well as friendliness and hospitality.

One interesting period in his biography was his friendship with Spanish Captain Quadra, who was also surveying the same areas. They both conducted topographic surveys of the coast in what is now British Columbia. The captains would exchange cannon salutes, dine together, and, according to their agreement, share the results of their surveys, gradually creating a detailed map of the intricate bays and cliffs. At one point, the two captains decided to immortalize their names in one geographical name. When it became clear that the vast territory north of the Strait of Juan de Fuca was an island, they named it "Quadra-Vancouver Island." However, history took its course, and as Spain sought to retain its southern possessions, they abandoned their claims to the territory of present-day British Columbia, rendering the "Quadra" prefix politically incorrect.

During his voyages from 1792 to 1795, Captain George Vancouver compiled detailed maps of the coast from northern Alaska to the state of Oregon. Many names of mountains, straits, and capes that we still use today were given by him in honor of other sailors and officers on his ships. Even now, we can see his entire crew on the map - Puget Sound, Mt. Baker, Port Orchard, Whidbey Island, and more.

By the beginning of his journey, Vancouver understood that the existence of a passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic in these latitudes was highly unlikely. However, this did not diminish his enthusiasm for exploring new lands. Interestingly, Vancouver's expedition narrowly missed encountering Alexander Mackenzie, who became the first person to cross the American continent north of California overland. Mackenzie was surprised to hear from local Indigenous people about "a massive canoe that arrived with Chief Maquinna and his shaman Benzins." These names were clearly distorted versions of Vancouver's name and his ship's botanist, Menzies.

In 1796, Captain Vancouver returned to England, where he prepared his maps and journals for publication. However, he did not have much time for rest as an official investigation was launched against him, accusing him of "tyranny and cruelty." Indeed, flogging on the Discovery was a common occurrence, and officers often found Captain Vancouver excessively harsh, even with them. It is difficult to determine the truth behind these accusations now. On the other hand, Captain Vancouver took better care of his sailors' health than any other captain of his time. The rations were always nutritious, and more importantly, he did everything possible to prevent scurvy, a scourge of that era. The strict regime on the ship was also necessary to conduct topographic work quickly and efficiently. Vancouver surpassed all others in terms of the quantity and quality of his work, making more contributions to maritime cartography than anyone in the history of navigation.

In 1798, Captain Vancouver passed away. It is known that he had tuberculosis, but some researchers believe that he also suffered from a severe thyroid condition, which may have contributed to his frequent mood swings and outbursts of anger in his later years. In his forty years of life, Captain George Vancouver traveled the world. His voyages extended far beyond those described in this article. His adventurous life is of great interest to history and geography enthusiasts.