HMS Discovery (1874)
HMS Discovery (foreground) and HMS Alert (background, right)
| |
History | |
---|---|
United Kingdom | |
Name | Bloodhound |
Owner |
|
Builder | Alexander Stephen & Sons , Dundee |
Yard number | 53 |
Launched | 2 August 1872 |
Completed | April 1873 |
United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Discovery |
Acquired | Purchased 5 December 1874 |
Commissioned | 13 April 1875 |
Fate | Sold February 1902 |
General characteristics | |
Tonnage | 1247 tons[2] |
Length | 166 ft (51 m) |
Beam | 29 ft (8.8 m) |
Draught | 16.5 ft (5.0 m) |
Installed power | Indicated 312 hp (233 kW) |
Propulsion | Greenock Foundry Company steam engine |
Sail plan | Barque-rigged |
Complement | 60[1] |
HMS Discovery was a wood-hulled screw expedition ship, and later storeship, formerly the sealing ship Bloodhound built in 1873 in Dundee. She was purchased in 1874 for the British Arctic Expedition of 1875–1876 and later served as a store ship. Discovery was sold in 1902, reverting to the name Bloodhound and her previous sealing trade. The ship was wrecked in Newfoundland in 1917.
Design and construction
The steam
Newfoundland sealing
Bloodhound was launched for Bain & Johnston of
British Arctic Expedition
In 1874, the Admiralty were seeking a suitable exploration vessel for the 1875 British Arctic Expedition, and considered Bloodhound ideally suited. She was purchased on 5 December 1874[2] and converted for exploration, commissioning as HMS Discovery on 13 April 1875. Captain
Despite finding heavier-than-expected ice, the expedition pressed on.[7] Leaving Discovery to winter at Lady Franklin Bay, Alert carried on a further 50 nautical miles (93 km; 58 mi) through the Robeson Channel, establishing her winter quarters at Floeberg Beach.[7] Spring 1876 saw considerable activity by sledge charting the coasts of Ellesmere Island and Greenland, but scurvy had begun to take hold, with Alert suffering the greatest burden.[7] On 3 April, the second-in-command of Alert, Albert Hastings Markham, took a party north to attempt the Pole. By 11 May, having made slow progress, they reached their greatest latitude at 83° 20' 26"N.[8] Suffering from snow blindness, scurvy and exhaustion, they turned back.
The expedition returned to the UK in Autumn 1876 and was well rewarded; Nares was knighted, Markham was promoted to captain.[9] The geography of northern Canada and Greenland is littered with the names of those connected with the expedition; Cape Discovery (83°01′N 77°29′W / 83.017°N 77.483°W) on the northern edge of Ellesmere Island is named for the ship.
Storeship at Portsmouth
The Discovery saw no further seagoing service after her return from the Arctic. She was employed as a storeship in Portsmouth Harbour from 1880,[10] probably up until the time of her final disposal.
Disposal
Discovery was sold to D Murray in February 1902.[2]
Legacy
The 1901 research vessel, built for the
Subsequent Royal Research Ships, launched in 1929 and 1962, have also borne the name, as has Space Shuttle Discovery.
Bibliography
- Narrative of a voyage to the Polar Sea during 1875–76 in H.M. ships ‘Alert’ and ‘Discovery’, by Captain George Strong Nares, in two volumes, London 1878; online book Volume 1 & Volume 2
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-57607-422-0
- ^ OCLC 52620555.
- ^ a b c d "Bloodhound". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "Launches". Shipping and Mercantile Gazette. No. 10, 908. London: British Newspaper Archive (subscription). 7 August 1872. p. 5. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "Bloodhound". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "HMS Discovery at William Looney website". Retrieved 26 November 2008.
- ^ a b c "1875–76 Arctic Expedition at Richard Cavill's website". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
- ^ "Biography of Albert Markham at the National Maritime Museum". Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
- ^ "HMS Alert at the Canadian Coastguard website". Retrieved 16 November 2008.
- ^ "HMS Discovery at Naval Database website". Retrieved 28 November 2008.
External links
- Media related to HMS Discovery (ship, 1874) at Wikimedia Commons