Port Etches
Encyclopedia
Port Etches is a bay in the southcentral part of the U.S. state
of Alaska
. It is located on the west side of Hinchinbrook Island
and opens onto Hinchinbrook Entrance, a strait between Hinchinbrook Island and Montague Island
, connecting Prince William Sound
and the Gulf of Alaska
.
Port Etches was named by Captain Nathaniel Portlock in July 1787, presumedly for John Cadman Etches or Richard Cadman Etches, who with "other traders entered into a commercial partenship, under the title of the King George's Sound Company
(also known as Richard Cadman Etches and Company), for carrying a fur trade from the western coast of America to China. George Dixon, who accompanied Portlock, called it "Port Rose". Russian fur traders gave it the name "Zaliv Nuchek". It's earliest known European name was "Puerto de Santiago", given on July 23, 1779, by Ignacio de Arteaga
, during his exploration voyage with Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra
. The name commemorated Saint James, the patron saint
of Spain, whose feast day
falls on July 25. While the Spaniards were anchored in Port Etches they performed a formal possession ceremony. All the officers and chaplains went ashore in procession, raised a large cross while cannons and muskets fired salutes. The Te Deum was sung, followed by a litany and prayers. After a sermon was preached a formal deed of possession was drawn up and signed by the officers and chaplains. The title to Puerto de Santiago was important for years afterward, as it formed the basis of Spain's claim to sovereignty in the North Pacific up to 61°17′N.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. It is located on the west side of Hinchinbrook Island
Hinchinbrook Island (Alaska)
Hinchinbrook Island is an island in the Gulf of Alaska lying at the entrance to Prince William Sound in the state of Alaska, USA. The island has a land area of 171.98 sq mi , making it the 37th largest island in the United States...
and opens onto Hinchinbrook Entrance, a strait between Hinchinbrook Island and Montague Island
Montague Island (Alaska)
Montague Island is an island in the Gulf of Alaska lying at the entrance to Prince William Sound in the state of Alaska, USA. The island has a land area of 790.88 km² , making it the 26th largest island in the United States. As of the 2000 census, Montague did not have a permanent resident...
, connecting Prince William Sound
Prince William Sound
Prince William Sound is a sound off the Gulf of Alaska on the south coast of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is located on the east side of the Kenai Peninsula. Its largest port is Valdez, at the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System...
and the Gulf of Alaska
Gulf of Alaska
The Gulf of Alaska is an arm of the Pacific Ocean defined by the curve of the southern coast of Alaska, stretching from the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island in the west to the Alexander Archipelago in the east, where Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage are found.The entire shoreline of the Gulf is...
.
Port Etches was named by Captain Nathaniel Portlock in July 1787, presumedly for John Cadman Etches or Richard Cadman Etches, who with "other traders entered into a commercial partenship, under the title of the King George's Sound Company
King George's Sound Company
The King George's Sound Company, also known as Richard Cadman Etches and Company after its "prime mover and principal investor", was an English company formed in 1785 for the Maritime Fur Trade on the northwest coast of North America...
(also known as Richard Cadman Etches and Company), for carrying a fur trade from the western coast of America to China. George Dixon, who accompanied Portlock, called it "Port Rose". Russian fur traders gave it the name "Zaliv Nuchek". It's earliest known European name was "Puerto de Santiago", given on July 23, 1779, by Ignacio de Arteaga
Ignacio de Arteaga y Bazán
Ignacio de Arteaga y Bazán was an officer of the Spanish Navy. He was born in Aracena, Andalusia. His paternal Basque family 'Arteaga' made it possible for Arteaga to join the naval academy at Cádiz. He was accepted as a guardiamarina in 1747 and upon graduation in 1754 was given the rank of...
, during his exploration voyage with Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra
Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra
Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra was a Spanish naval officer born in Lima, Peru. Assigned to the Pacific coast Spanish Naval Department base at San Blas, in the Viceroyalty of New Spain , this navigator explored the Northwest Coast of North America as far north as present day Alaska.Juan...
. The name commemorated Saint James, the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Spain, whose feast day
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
falls on July 25. While the Spaniards were anchored in Port Etches they performed a formal possession ceremony. All the officers and chaplains went ashore in procession, raised a large cross while cannons and muskets fired salutes. The Te Deum was sung, followed by a litany and prayers. After a sermon was preached a formal deed of possession was drawn up and signed by the officers and chaplains. The title to Puerto de Santiago was important for years afterward, as it formed the basis of Spain's claim to sovereignty in the North Pacific up to 61°17′N.