The Discovery of the South Shetland Islands: The Voyages of the Brig Williams 1819-1820 as Recorded in Contemporary Documents and the Journal of Midshipman C.W. PoynterIn 1819, William Smith, with a general cargo from Montevideo to Valparaiso, sailed further south round Cape Horn than his predecessors, in the hope of finding favourable winds. He sighted land in 62S. His report to the Senior Naval Officer in Valparaiso was ridiculed, but on a subsequent voyage he confirmed his discovery, taking surroundings and sailing along the coast. As a result Captain Shirreff, the Senior Naval Officer, chartered his vessel, the brig Williams, and having put Edward Bransfield, the master of his ship, HMS Andromache, in charge, sent her to survey the new discovery. Charles Poynter was one of the midshipmen who sailed with Bransfield. His account of this expedition, which forms the principal part of this volume, recently came to light in New Zealand, and is the only first-hand account of the voyage, during which the Antarctic mainland was sighted for the first time, that appears to have survived. The introduction contains some remarks on the South Shetland Islands, followed by chapters giving a brief look at the history of the Spanish in South America and the British presence in the area, together with the speculation leading to the search for Antarctica and chapters on early nineteenth-century navigation and hydrographic surveying.There were a number of second-hand accounts of William Smith's earlier voyages, and Bransfield's expedition which appeared in reports, journals and books at the time. These are included with brief accounts of other voyages to the South Shetland Islands which took place while Bransfield was in the area, to complete the picture. Poynter's journal explains the reasons behind most of the names given to land features, some of which were not included in the published accounts at the time. There are also three charts and a number of views which are reproduced together with modern photographs of the area. It also contains a large number of geographical positions which enable a track chart of the voyage to be produced and an assessment of the accuracy of this short but remarkable voyage to be made. Finally the chart published as a result of Bransfield's survey is included. |
Contents
Antarctic Background | 15 |
Nineteenthcentury Navigation and Surveying | 29 |
Voyage of Edward Bransfield | 69 |
Copyright | |
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The Discovery of the South Shetland Islands, 1819-1820: The Journal of ... R. J. Campbell No preview available - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
½ past Admiral Admiralty Admiralty Bay amended to read anchorage Antarctic appear arrival August bearing birds boat bore brig Williams British Buenos Ayres Cape Bowles Cape Horn Cape Melville Cape Shirreff Cape Williams Captain Shirreff chart chronometer Clarences Island coast command continent covered with snow discovered land discovery distance east eastward Edinburgh Philosophical Journal Edward Bransfield Elephant Elephant Island fathoms February George's Bay harbour hauled HMS Andromache HMS Hyperion Hydrographer January latitude leagues Literary Gazette longitude Master Miers miles named navigation Navy Noon North Foreland Northward observed oClock October Office Plate position Poynter's journal Purdy remarks Robert Fildes rocks round sailed sand Sandwich Land seals seen ship shore sight Smith's Cape soundings South America South Shetland Islands Southern Southward Strait survey tacked Text amended thick Valparaiso vessel voyage weather Weddell West Westward whales William Smith wind
References to this book
Exploring Polar Frontiers: A Historical Encyclopedia [2 Volumes] William James Mills No preview available - 2003 |