See Also

George Vancouver

George Vancouver was an officer of the Royal Navy Royal Navy

The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom [i] is the oldest of the British armed services [i] ... 

, best known for his exploration of North America North America

North America is a continent [i] in the Earth [i]'s northern hemisphere [i] and almost fully in the western hemisphere [i] ... 

, including the Pacific coast along present-day Oregon Oregon

Oregon is a state [i] in the Pacific Northwest [i] region of the United States [i]. ... 

, Washington Washington

Washington is a state [i] in the Pacific Northwest [i] of the United States [i]. ... 

, and British Columbia British Columbia

British Columbia, often referred to as B.C. or BC , is the westernmost of [[Canada|Canada's]... 

; he also explored the southwest coast of Australia Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere [i] c ... 

.

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Timeline

1792   George Vancouver explores Puget Sound Puget Sound

Puget Sound is a sound [i] connected to the Pacific Ocean [i] via the Strait of Juan de Fuca [i] ... 

, becomes first European to see Mount Rainier Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier is a stratovolcano [i] in Pierce County, Washington [i], located 54 miles southeast of Seattle [i] ... 

.



Encyclopedia



George Vancouver was an officer of the Royal Navy Royal Navy

The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom [i] is the oldest of the British armed services [i] ... 

, best known for his exploration of North America North America

North America is a continent [i] in the Earth [i]'s northern hemisphere [i] and almost fully in the western hemisphere [i]... 

, including the Pacific coast along present-day Oregon Oregon

Oregon is a state [i] in the Pacific Northwest [i] region of the United States [i]. ... 

, Washington Washington

Washington is a state [i] in the Pacific Northwest [i] of the United States [i]. ... 

, and British Columbia British Columbia

British Columbia, often referred to as B.C. or BC , is the westernmost of [[Canada|Canada's]... 

; he also explored the southwest coast of Australia Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere [i] c ... 

.

Early Careers

George Vancouver was born in King's Lynn King's Lynn

King's Lynn is a town [i] and port [i] in the English [i] county of Norfolk [i].... 

, England England

England is the largest and most populous constituent country [i] of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

. At the age of fifteen, he traveled to the Pacific aboard HMS Resolution HMS Resolution

Twelve ships of the Royal Navy [i] have borne the name HMS Resolution:
... 

, on Captain James Cook James Cook

Captain [i] James Cook, FRS [i], RN [i] was an English [i] explorer, navigator [i]... 

's second voyage . It was Vancouver's first naval service. He also accompanied Cook on his third voyage , this time aboard Resolution's sister ship, HMS Discovery.

Upon his return to Britain in 1779, Vancouver was commissioned as a lieutenant Lieutenant

Lieutenant is a military [i], paramilitary [i], fire service [i] or police [i] officer [i] ... 

. He was then posted aboard the sloop HMS Martin, on patrol in the English Channel English Channel

The English Channel is the part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] that separates the island [i] of Great Britain [i] ... 

.

Vancouver next served on the 74-gun ship of the line Ship of the line

In the age of sail [i], after the development of the line of battle [i] tactic [i] in the mid ... 

 HMS Fame. The Fame was involved in the British United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state [i] tha ... 

 victory in the Battle of the Saintes Battle of the Saintes

The Battle of the Saintes took place over 4 days, 9 April [i] - 12 April [i] 1782 [i], during the American Revolutionary War [i] ... 

 in 1782.

While serving on the West Indies Caribbean

The Caribbean is a region [i] of the Americas [i] consisting of the Caribbean Sea [i], its island [i]s... 

 station, Vancouver put the surveying Surveying

Surveying is the technique and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional sp... 

 and cartographic Cartography

Cartography or mapmaking is the study and practice of making map [i]s or globe [i]s. ... 

 skills he learned under Cook to use surveying Port Royal and Kingston Harbour. He was assisted by Joseph Whidbey, who later served as his sailing master.

In 1789, the Royal Navy was planning another voyage to the Pacific. It was to be commanded by Henry Roberts, another of Captain Cook's protégés, with Vancouver as his second in command. HMS Discovery was purchased specifically for this mission.

However, when Spanish Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a Europe [i]an parliamentary monarchy [i].... 

 forces seized Nootka Island in Nootka Sound Nootka Sound

Nootka Sound is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean [i] and a natural harbour on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island [i] ... 

, the expedition was put on hold. Spain and Britain came close to war, but an accommodation was reached with the Nootka Convention. However the dispute disrupted the preparations for the expedition. By the time the convention was signed, Roberts was unavailable and Vancouver was given command.

Vancouver's 1791-1794 exploration of North America's Pacific Coast


Vancouver followed the coasts of what is now Oregon and Washington northward. In June 1792, he named Burrard Inlet Burrard Inlet

Burrard Inlet is a relatively shallow-sided coastal fjord [i] in southwestern British Columbia [i].... 

 after his friend Sir Harry Burrard. In October 1792, he sent Lieutenant William Robert Broughton with several boats up the Columbia River Columbia River

The Columbia River is a river [i] situated in British Columbia [i] and the Pacific Northwest [i] of the ... 

. Broughton got as far as the Columbia River Gorge Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge is a spectacular canyon [i] of the Columbia River [i] in the Pacific Northwest [i] ... 

, sighting and naming Mount Hood Mount Hood

Mount Hood is a dormant stratovolcano [i] in northern Oregon [i], in the Pacific Northwest [i] region of ... 

. Vancouver also entered the Strait of Juan de Fuca Strait of Juan de Fuca

The Strait of Juan de Fuca is the principal outlet for the Georgia Strait [i] and Puget Sound [i] ... 

, between Vancouver Island Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is located off Canada [i]'s Pacific [i] coast and is part of the Canadian province [i] ... 

 and the mainland. He intended to explore every bay and outlet in this region, and many times had to use boats, as the inlets were often too narrow for his ships. He met a Spanish exploring party led by Dionisio Alcala Galiano Dionisio Alcalá Galiano

... 

 and Cayetano Valdes y Flores, and for some time they explored Puget Sound Puget Sound

Puget Sound is a sound [i] connected to the Pacific Ocean [i] via the Strait of Juan de Fuca [i] ... 

 together.

Afterwards, Vancouver went to Nootka Nuu-chah-nulth

The Nuu-chah-nulth people are indigenous people [i]s of Canada [i].... 

 on Vancouver Island Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is located off Canada [i]'s Pacific [i] coast and is part of the Canadian province [i] ... 

, then the region's most important harbour, where he was to get any British buildings or lands returned by the Spanish. The Spanish commander, Bodega y Quadra Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra

Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra was a Spanish [i] naval officer born in Lima, Peru [i]. ... 

, was very cordial and he and Vancouver exchanged the maps they had made, but no agreement was reached; they decided to await further instructions. After a visit to Spanish California California

California is a state [i] spanning the southern half of the west coast [i] ... 

, Vancouver spent the winter in further exploration of the Sandwich Islands Hawaii

Hawaii became the 50th state [i] of the United States [i] on August 21 [i], 1959 [i]. ... 

 .

The next year, he returned to British Columbia British Columbia

British Columbia, often referred to as B.C. or BC , is the westernmost of [[Canada|Canada's]... 

, and proceeded further north. He got to 56°N, but because the more northern parts had already been explored by Cook, he sailed south to California, hoping to find Bodega y Quadra and fulfill his mission, but the Spaniard was not there. He again spent the winter in the Sandwich Islands.

In 1794, he first went to Cook Inlet Cook Inlet

The Cook Inlet or Nuti is a large inlet [i] of the Gulf of Alaska [i] in south-central Alaska [i]. ... 

, the northernmost point of his exploration, and from there followed the coast south to Baranov Island Baranof Island

Baranof Island, also sometimes called Baranov Island or Sitka Island, is an island [i] in th ... 

, which he had visited the year before. He then set sail for England England

England is the largest and most populous constituent country [i] of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

 by way of Cape Horn Cape Horn

[i] [[archipelago]... 

, thus completing a circumnavigation Circumnavigation

To circumnavigate a place, such as an island, a continent, or the Earth [i], is to travel all the way ar ... 

.

Vancouver determined that the Northwest Passage Northwest Passage

The Northwest Passage is a sea route connecting the Atlantic [i] and Pacific Ocean [i]s t ... 

 did not exist at the latitudes that had long been suggested. Various locations around the world have been named after George Vancouver, including Vancouver Island Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is located off Canada [i]'s Pacific [i] coast and is part of the Canadian province [i] ... 

  and the cities of Vancouver, British Columbia Vancouver

Vancouver is a Canadian city [i] in the province [i] of British Columbia [i] ... 

, and Vancouver, Washington Vancouver, Washington

Vancouver, Washington is a city on the north shore of the Columbia River [i], in the state of Washington [i] ... 

.

Vancouver faced a disciplinary inquiry when he returned because of an action he had taken against a junior officer who happened to be well connected politically. His career was effectively at an end. One of Britain's greatest navigators, Vancouver died in obscurity. His modest grave lies in St. Peters churchyard, Petersham.

Origin of the family name


The origin of Vancouver's name is a disputed issue. It is commonly believed that the name is derived from van Coevorden, meaning "from Coevorden Coevorden

[i]
... 

," a small village in the northeast of the Netherlands Netherlands

The Netherlands is the Europe [i]an part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands [i] , which is formed ... 

. This theory was suggested by Adriaan Mansvelt, the Consul General of the Netherlands based in Vancouver, British Columbia in the 1970s 1970s

The 1970s decade [i] refers to the years from 1970 [i] to 1979 [i], inclusive. ... 

. It is known that a number of businessmen from the Coevorden area relocated to England in the 18th Century. Some of them were known as van Coevorden. Others adopted the surname Oxford, which is approximately the English translation of coevorden. Information presented by the city of Vancouver Vancouver

Vancouver is a Canadian city [i] in the province [i] of British Columbia [i] ... 

 during the Expo '86 Expo 86

The 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, or simply Expo '86, was a World's Fair [i] ... 

 World's Fair World's Fair

A World's Fair is any of various large exposition [i]s held since the mid-19th century [i]. ... 

, sanctioned Mansvelt's theory as historical fact. However, the documents cited in support are inconclusive.

An alternative theory claims that the name Vancouver is actually a misspelling Misspelling

Misspelling refers to spelling [i] a word incorrectly. ... 

 or anglicized version of van Couwen, a very common name in the Netherlands Netherlands

The Netherlands is the Europe [i]an part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands [i] , which is formed ... 

.

Others present on Vancouver's voyage

  • Archibald Menzies Archibald Menzies

    Archibald Menzies was a Scottish [i] physician [i] and naturalist [i].

... 

, ship's doctor and naturalist on board Vancouver's voyage.
  • Peter Puget, lieutenant
  • Zachariah Mudge
  • Robert Barrie
  • Spelman Swaine
  • Edward Roberts Edward Roberts

    Edward Moxon Roberts, LL.B [i] , BA [i] is a Canadian [i] poli ... 

  • Joseph Whidbey

Works by George Vancouver


  • Voyage Of Discovery To The North Pacific Ocean, And Round The World In The Years 1790-95, by George Vancouver

External links