Joshua Slocum The world's first round-the-world traveler Date of Birth: 20.02.1844 Country: USA

1. Biography of Joshua Slocum
2. Early Life and Love for the Sea
3. Life as a Sailor
4. The Voyage of the Liberdade
5. Sailing Alone Around the World
6. Legacy

Biography of Joshua Slocum

Joshua Slocum, born in 1844 on a family farm in Mount Hanley, Nova Scotia, was an American explorer and traveler, and the first person in the world to complete a solo circumnavigation. He covered a distance of 46,000 miles (74,000 km). Surprisingly, Slocum's remarkable journey only gained significant attention in the press later on, as it happened during the war with Spain.

Early Life and Love for the Sea

Slocum was the fifth of eight children born to John Slocombe and his wife Sarah Jane. Despite helping his father on the farm from a young age, Slocum always dreamed of the sea. He spent all his free time on the water, much to his strict father's disapproval. Interestingly, Slocum's father had been a seasoned mariner himself but had settled on land and had no desire to hear about the sea. Slocum later said that his father's old shack on land became his anchor.

At his father's insistence, Slocum became an apprentice to a shoemaker who made leather boots for fishermen. However, the smell of leather attracted him far less than the salty air of the sea. He attempted to run away from home several times but was unsuccessful. At the age of 14, his dream finally came true when he was hired as a cabin boy and cook on a fishing vessel. However, the voyage was short-lived, and he soon returned to shore.

Life as a Sailor

Slocum's father continued to pressure him, and at the age of 16, he left his family home for good and changed his surname from "Slocombe" to "Slocum." He began living the life of a sailor, occasionally going out to sea on various ships. By the age of 17, he had already crossed the ocean and visited many corners of the globe. By then, he knew for certain that his soul and heart belonged solely to the sea.

In 1865, he settled in San Francisco and obtained American citizenship. At the age of 25, Slocum commanded a small schooner, and within a year, he became the captain of a ship bound for Australia. By this time, he was married, and he even took his young wife on a voyage to Alaska. Unfortunately, as expected, having a woman on board brought misfortune, and the ship was wrecked. However, the crew survived, and while waiting for help for several months, Slocum learned the art of whaling.

The Voyage of the Liberdade

In the 1870s, Slocum experienced several years of unemployment with no suitable work available. In desperation, he took a bold step. He bought a small boat, reinforced its sides, built a small cabin, and laid a deck. He installed three masts and embarked on his own family as the crew. This maritime voyage on the "Liberdade" was extensively covered in the press, and the family sailed for almost a year. Slocum later wrote a book about this journey titled "Voyage of the Liberdade," which sold well and brought much-needed income.

Sailing Alone Around the World

In 1895, Slocum purchased a small sloop named "Spray." After almost a year of repairs and some investment, he became the captain of a well-equipped small sailboat. It was then that Slocum heard a calling from within himself, a desire to do something that no one else had ever done. Thus, he made the decision to embark on a solo circumnavigation. His boat was reliable, his sailing experience extensive, his thirst for adventure immense, and he intended to publish a book that would bring profits upon completing the journey.

On April 24, 1895, he left the American coast, setting sail from Boston. This marked the beginning of his more than three-year solo circumnavigation. Joshua Slocum successfully accomplished his goal, arriving in Newport, Rhode Island, on June 27, 1898, after covering 46,000 miles (approximately 74,000 km) and more than three years at sea. He officially became the first solo traveler to circumnavigate the globe by water.

His book, "Sailing Alone Around the World," was published in 1900 and was later considered an invaluable resource for yachting enthusiasts.

Legacy

Slocum continued to sail on his boat, "Spray," until 1909, and it was on this vessel that he met his death. In November 1909, he set sail with the intention of reaching South America. He never returned, and he was never seen again. It is believed that he may have died during the journey, as he was already quite elderly, and his boat, without anyone to steer it, may have sunk. However, there is no precise information about how the courageous seafarer met his fate, and his death is generally recorded as "after November 14, 1909."

Joshua Slocum entered history as the first person to complete a solo circumnavigation. His book, "Sailing Alone Around the World," remains a testament to his incredible journey and continues to inspire maritime adventurers to this day.