William Smith (mariner)
William Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1790 Blyth, Northumberland, England |
| Died | 1847 (aged 56–57) |
| Occupation | Ship captain |
William Smith (c. 1790–1847)
Early life and Apprenticeship
In the eighteenth century, boys would start their seven-year apprenticeship at sea at the age of fourteen.[2] According to John Miers' account of the discovery, William Smith had undertaken his apprenticeship ‘in the Greenland whale-fishery’.[3] (At that time, there was a substantial British whaling industry, including to Greenland.) During his life he worked with Richard Siddins, described by historian Ida Lee as "...perhaps the greatest traveler of them all, who gave so much information concerning early Fiji, and delighted to hold mission services on board his ship in Sydney Harbour."[citation needed]
By 1811 Smith became part owner of the ship William, which was then under construction in Blyth, Northumberland.[4][2]
Discovery of Antarctica
In 1819, while sailing cargo on William from
Honours
Smith Island and Cape Smith in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica are named after William Smith. [1]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Smith Island". SCAR Composite Antarctic Gazetteer. Standing Committee on Antarctic Research. 8 September 1953. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- ^ a b Jones (1982). Antarctica Observed: Who discovered the Antarctic continent?. Whitby: Caedmon. pp. 59, 62.
- ^ Miers, John (1820). "Account of the Discovery of New South Shetland, with observations on its importance in a Geographical, Commercial, and Political point of view". Edinburgh Philosophical Journal. 3: 370.
- ^ Lloyd's Register (1813), "W" supple. pages, Seq.No.W41.
- ^ Lee, Ida (1913). The Voyages of Captain William Smith and Others to the South Shetlands. London: Royal Geographical Society (published October 1913).
Sources
- Antarctic Voyages and Expeditions, retrieved on 2 March 2005
- Glasgow Digital Library: Scotland and the Antarctic: Nineteenth Century, retrieved on 2 March 2005
- Ashgate Publishing: The Discovery of the South Shetland Islands, 1819-1820: The Journal of Midshipman C. W. Poynter, summary of the book retrieved on 2 March 2005
- Ivanov, L. General Geography and History of Livingston Island. In: Bulgarian Antarctic Research: A Synthesis. Eds. C. Pimpirev and N. Chipev. Sofia: St. Kliment Ohridski University Press, 2015. pp. 17–28. ISBN 978-954-07-3939-7
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