George Vancouver

George Vancouver (June 22, 1757 – May 12, 1798) was an officer of the Royal Navy, and an explorer best known for his exploration of North America, including the Pacific coast along Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia; he also explored the southwest coast of Australia. He was born in King's Lynn, England.

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

He followed the coasts of Oregon and Washington northward. In October 1792 he sent Lieutenant William Robert Broughton with several boats from Broughton's own ship to explore the Columbia River. Broughton navigated as far as the Columbia River Gorge, sighting and naming Mt. Hood. Vancouver also entered the Strait of Juan de Fuca, between Vancouver Island and the mainland. He intended to explore every bay and outlet of this region, and many times had to use boats to do so, because the inlets were often too narrow for his ships. He met a Spanish exploring party led by Dionisio Alcala Galiano and Cayetano Valdes y Flores, and for some time they explored Puget Sound together. Afterwards, Vancouver went to Nootka (on Vancouver Island), 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 was very cordial and he and Vancouver exchanged the maps they had made of their explorations, but no agreement was reached; they decided to await further instructions. After a visit to Spanish California, Vancouver used the winter to further explore the Sandwich Islands.

Related Topics:
1792 - William Robert Broughton - Columbia River - Columbia River Gorge - Mt. Hood - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Vancouver Island - Dionisio Alcala Galiano - Cayetano Valdes y Flores - Puget Sound - Nootka - Bodega y Quadra - California - Sandwich Islands

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The next year he went back to British Columbia, and explored the coast further north. He got to 56°N, and because the more northern parts had already been explored by Cook, he then sailed south to California, hoping to be able to fulfil his task regarding Nootka; however, Bodega y Quadra was not there. He again spent the winter in the Sandwich Islands.

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The Burrard Inlet was named by Captain Vancouver in June 1792, after his friend Sir Harry Burrard.

Related Topics:
Burrard Inlet - 1792 - Harry Burrard

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In 1794, he first went to Cook Inlet, the northernmost limit of his exploration, and from there he followed the coast southward to Baranov Island, which he had also reached the year before. He then set sail for England, choosing the route around Cape Horn, thus completing a circumnavigation.

Related Topics:
1794 - Cook Inlet - Baranov Island - England - Cape Horn - Circumnavigation

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At the end of the exploration. Vancouver determined that the Northwest Passage 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 (originally Vancouver & Quadra Island) and the cities of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Vancouver, Washington.

Related Topics:
Vancouver Island - Vancouver, British Columbia - Vancouver, Washington

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Vancouver had to face 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.

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