Dougherty
Encyclopedia
Dougherty is the name of a phantom island
that was believed to be located in the southern hemisphere towards Australia
. It is named for Captain Dougherty of the James Stewart, an English whaler, who in 1841 reported discovering it at 59°20′S 120°20′W. He described it as 5–6 miles long with a high bluff to the northeast, and covered in snow. Dougherty's discovery was confirmed by Captain Keates of the Louise in 1860, giving its coordinates as 59°20′S 120°18′W, and by Captain Stannard of the Cingalese 1886, giving the location as 59°21′S 119°7′W.
However, thorough exploration of the area in the latest 19th and early 20th centuries established that the island does not exist. Captain Davis
of the Nimrod suggested that the most likely explanation was that Dougherty, Keates, and Stannard were all deceived by fog banks or icebergs (none, after all, claimed to have actually landed on the island): "I am inclined to think Dougherty Island has melted."
Phantom island
Phantom islands are islands that were believed to exist, and appeared on maps for a period of time during recorded history, but were later removed after they were proved to be nonexistent...
that was believed to be located in the southern hemisphere towards Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is named for Captain Dougherty of the James Stewart, an English whaler, who in 1841 reported discovering it at 59°20′S 120°20′W. He described it as 5–6 miles long with a high bluff to the northeast, and covered in snow. Dougherty's discovery was confirmed by Captain Keates of the Louise in 1860, giving its coordinates as 59°20′S 120°18′W, and by Captain Stannard of the Cingalese 1886, giving the location as 59°21′S 119°7′W.
However, thorough exploration of the area in the latest 19th and early 20th centuries established that the island does not exist. Captain Davis
John King Davis
John King Davis, CBE was an English-born Australian explorer and navigator notable for his work captaining exploration ships in Antarctic waters as well as for establishing meteorological stations on Macquarie Island in the subantarctic and on Willis Island in the Coral Sea.-Early life:Davis's...
of the Nimrod suggested that the most likely explanation was that Dougherty, Keates, and Stannard were all deceived by fog banks or icebergs (none, after all, claimed to have actually landed on the island): "I am inclined to think Dougherty Island has melted."