| Charles Wilkes | |
 Charles Wilkes
|
|
| Born | April 3, 1798 New York City |
|---|---|
| Died | February 8, 1877 Washington, D. C. |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Pacific expedition |
Charles Wilkes (April 3, 1798 – February 8, 1877) was an American naval officer and explorer. Events 1043 - Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. Year 1798 ( MDCCXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The City of New York Events 421 - Constantius III becomes co- Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1877 ( MDCCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States Exploring Expedition was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean ("the Southern Seas" conducted by the United States Navy from Events 1043 - Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. Year 1798 ( MDCCXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 421 - Constantius III becomes co- Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1877 ( MDCCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The United States of America —commonly referred to as the This list of explorers is sorted by surname See also the links below. He is particularly noted for his 1838–1842 Pacific expedition as well as for his role in the Trent Affair during the Civil War. The United States Exploring Expedition was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean ("the Southern Seas" conducted by the United States Navy from Britain in the American Civil War The Trent Affair, also known as the Mason and Slidell Affair, was an international diplomatic incident that occurred during the Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South
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Early life and career
Wilkes was born in New York City, in 1798, as the great nephew of the former Lord Mayor of London John Wilkes. The City of New York The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of (and head of the City of London Corporation. John Wilkes ( 17 October 1725 – 26 December 1797) was an English radical, journalist and politician His mother was Mary Seton who died in 1802 while Charles was three years old. As a result, Charles was raised by his aunt, Elizabeth Ann Seton, a convert to Roman Catholicism who was the first American-born woman to be canonized a saint by the Catholic Church. Saint Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton ( August 28, 1774 &ndash January 4, 1821) was the first native-born Citizen of the United States When Elizabeth was left widowed with five children, Charles was sent to a boarding school, and later attended Columbia College, now Columbia University. A boarding school is a School where some or all pupils not only study but also live during term time with their fellow students and possibly teachers History Columbia College was founded as King’s College by royal charter of King George II of England in the Columbia University is a private University in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. He entered the United States Navy as a midshipman in 1818, and became a lieutenant in 1826. For the fish called midshipman see Midshipman fish. The rank of midshipman is one of the oldest ranks still in existence Lieutenant (abbreviated Lt or Lieut) is a Military, Naval, Paramilitary, Fire service, Emergency medical services
In 1833, for his survey of Narragansett Bay, he was placed in charge of the Navy's Department of Charts and Instruments, out of which developed the Naval Observatory and Hydrographic Office. Narragansett Bay is a Bay and Estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. The United States Naval Observatory ( USNO) is one of the oldest Scientific agencies in the United States. Wilkes interdisciplinary expedition (1838-1842) set a physical oceanography benchmark for its first superintendent Matthew Fontaine Maury. Physical oceanography is the study of physical conditions and physical processes within the Ocean, especially the motions and physical properties of ocean waters Matthew Fontaine Maury ( January 14, 1806 &ndash February 1, 1873) USN was an American Astronomer,
The South Seas expedition
In 1838, although not a seasoned naval line officer, Wilkes was experienced in nautical survey work, and working with civilian scientists. Upon this background he was given command of the government exploring expedition ". . . for the purpose of exploring and surveying the Southern Ocean, ""as well to determine the existence of all doubtful islands and shoals, as to discover, and accurately fix, the position of those which [lay] in or near the track of our vessels in that quarter, and [might] have escaped the observation of scientific navigators. "" The U. S. Exploring Squadron was authorized by act of the Congress on May 18, 1836. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses
The United States Exploring Expedition, commonly known as the Wilkes Expedition, included naturalists, botanists, a mineralogist, taxidermists, artists and a philologist, and was carried by the USS Vincennes (780 tons) and Peacock (650 tons), the brig Porpoise (230 tons), the store-ship Relief, and two schooners, Sea Gull (110 tons) and Flying Fish (96 tons). The United States Exploring Expedition was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean ("the Southern Seas" conducted by the United States Navy from Natural history is the Scientific research of Plants or Animals leaning more towards the Observational than Experimental methods Botany, plant science(s, phytology, or plant biology is a branch of Biology and is the scientific study of plant Life Mineralogy is an Earth Science focused around the Chemistry, Crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of Minerals Taxidermy ( Greek for "skin arrangement" is the art of mounting or reproducing Animals for display (e The definition of an artist is wide-ranging and covers a broad spectrum of Activities to do with creating Art, practicing the Arts and/or demonstrating See Comparative linguistics for the narrower field of "comparative philology" Built in Brooklyn Vincennes – the first American ship to be so named -- was one of ten sloops of war whose construction was authorized by Congress on In nautical terms, a brig is a vessel with two square-rigged masts A schooner (ˈskuːnɚ is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts Schooners were first used by the The USS Sea Gull was a Schooner in the service of the United States Navy.
Leaving Hampton Roads on August 18, 1838, it stopped at the Madeira Islands and Rio de Janeiro; visited Tierra del Fuego, Chile, Peru, the Tuamotu Archipelago, Samoa, and New South Wales; from Sydney sailed into the Antarctic Ocean in December 1839 and reported the discovery "of an Antarctic continent west of the Balleny Islands"; visited Fiji and the Hawaiian Islands in 1840, explored the west coast of the United States, including the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, the Columbia River, San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento River, in 1841, and returned by way of the Philippines, the Sulu Archipelago, Borneo, Singapore, Polynesia and the Cape of Good Hope, reaching New York on June 10, 1842. Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the region of land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the USA. Events 293 BC - The oldest known Roman temple to Venus is founded starting the institution of Vinalia Rustica. Year 1838 ( MDCCCXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common History See also History of Madeira Pre-Portuguese times Pliny mentions certain Purple Islands the position of which with reference to the Rio de Janeiro ("River of January" ˈhiw dʒi ʒʌˈnejɾu in Brazilian Portuguese, /ˈriːoʊ di ʒəˈnɛroʊ/ in English is the second largest city of Brazil Tierra del Fuego ( Spanish for " Land of Fire " in English tiˈɛərə dɛl ˈfweɪgoʊ] Spanish ˈtjerað̞elˈfweɰo is an Archipelago Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. The Tuamotus or the Tuamotu Archipelago ( French: Îles Tuamotu officially Archipel des Tuamotu) are a chain of atolls in French Polynesia Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa, is a country governing the western part of the Samoan Islands Archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 The Southern Ocean, also known as the Great Southern Ocean, the Antarctic Ocean and the South Polar Ocean, comprises the southernmost waters of The Balleny Islands ( form a chain of uninhabited mainly volcanic, Islands in the Southern Ocean stretching from 66°15' to 67°35'S and 162°30' to 165°00'E Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य The Hawaiian Islands, once known as the Sandwich Islands, form an Archipelago of 19 Islands and Atolls numerous smaller The Strait of Juan de Fuca (also called Juan de Fuca Strait) is a large body of water about long forming the principal outlet for the Georgia Strait and Puget Puget Sound (ˈpjuːʤᵻt is an arm of the Pacific Ocean, connected to the rest of the Pacific by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, in the Pacific Northwest The Columbia River (known as San Francisco Bay is a shallow productive Estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento The Sacramento River is the longest River entirely within the U The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Sulu Archipelago is an island chain in the southwest Philippines. Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. Singapore Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a Subregion of Oceania, comprising a large grouping of over The Cape of Good Hope ( Afrikaans: Kaap die Goeie Hoop, Kaap de Goede Hoop Cabo da Boa Esperança Persian Language: دماغه امید نیک Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 1842 ( MDCCCXLII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common
In July 1840, two sailors, one of whom was Wilkes' nephew, Midshipman Wilkes Henry, were killed while bartering for food on Fiji's Malolo Island. Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य Wilkes retribution was swift and severe. According to an old man of Malolo Island, nearly 80 Fijians were killed in the incident.
After having completely encircled the globe (his was the last all-sail naval mission to do so), Wilkes had logged some 87,000 miles and lost two ships and 28 men. Wilkes was court-martialled on his return for the loss of one of his ships on the Columbia River bar, for the regular mistreatment of his subordinate officers, and for excessive punishment of his sailors. A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a Military court. These military courts can determine Punishments for members of the Military subject He was acquitted on all charges except that of illegally punishing men in his squadron. For a short time, he was attached to the Coast Survey, but from 1844 to 1861, he was chiefly engaged in preparing the report of the expedition.
His Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition (5 volumes and an atlas) were published in 1844. He edited the scientific reports of the expedition (20 volumes and 11 atlases, 1844–1874) and was the author of Vol. XI (Meteorology) and Vol. Meteorology (from Greek grc μετέωρος metéōros, "high in the sky" and grc -λογία -logia) is the Interdisciplinary XIII (Hydrography). Hydrography focuses on the measurement of physical characteristics of Waters and marginal land
The Narrative contains much interesting material concerning the manners and customs and political and economic conditions in many places then little known. Wilkes's 1841 Map of the Oregon Territory pre-dated John Charles Fremont's first Oregon Trail pathfinder expedition guided by Kit Carson during 1842. The Oregon Territory is the name applied both to the unorganized Oregon Country claimed by both the United States and Britain (but normally referred to John Charles Frémont ( January 21, 1813 July 13, 1890) was an American military officer, explorer, the Pioneers traveled across the Oregon Trail, one of the main overland migration routes on the North American Continent, in wagons in order to settle new parts of the Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson ( December 24, 1809 &ndash May 23, 1868) was an American Frontiersman
from "Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition. The Pacific Northwest is a region in the northwest of North America (the term refers to the land not the ocean " Philadelphia: 1845
Other valuable contributions were the three reports of James Dwight Dana on Zoophytes (1846), Geology (1849) and Crustacea (1852-1854). James Dwight Dana (February 12 1813 &ndash April 14 1895 was an American Geologist, Mineralogist and Zoologist. A zoophyte is an Animal that visually resembles a Plant. An example is a Sea anemone. Geology (from Greek γη gê, "earth" and λόγος Logos, "speech" lit Structure of crustaceans As Arthropods crustaceans have a stiff Exoskeleton, which must be shed to allow the animal to grow ( Ecdysis or molting Moreover, the specimens and artifacts brought back by expedition scientists ultimately formed the foundation for the Smithsonian Institution collection. A scientist, in the broadest sense refers to any person that engages in a systematic activity to acquire Knowledge or an individual that engages in such practices The Smithsonian Institution (smɪθsoʊnɪən is an educational and research institute and associated Museum complex administered and funded by the Government of In addition to many shorter articles and reports, Wilkes published the major scientific works Western America, including California and Oregon in 1849, and Theory of the Winds in 1856.
The Civil War
At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Wilkes (who had reached the rank of commander in 1843 and that of captain in 1855) was assigned to the command of the San Jacinto to search for the Confederate commerce destroyer Sumter. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South European service 1852-1854 No record of San Jacinto's commissioning ceremony has been found but her first commanding officer Captain Thomas Crabbe, reported The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861
The Trent Affair
On November 8, 1861, he stopped the British mail packet Trent, and took off the Confederate commissioners to England, James Murray Mason and John Slidell. Events 1519 - Hernán Cortés enters Tenochtitlán and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with great a Celebration Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common RMS Trent was a British Royal Mail Paddle steamer built in 1841 by William Pitcher of Northfleet for the James Murray Mason ( November 3, 1798 &ndash April 28, 1871) was a United States Representative and United States Senator John Slidell (1793 &ndash July 26, 1871) was an American politician lawyer and businessman He later brought them to Fort Warren in Boston Harbor. Fort Warren is a historic Fort on the 28-acre Georges Island at the entrance to Boston Harbor. Though he was officially thanked by Congress, his action was later disavowed by President Lincoln due to diplomatic pressure placed on the Administration by the British Government. Abraham Lincoln (February 12 1809 &ndash April 15 1865 the sixteenth President of the United States, successfully led his country through its greatest internal His next service was in the James River flotilla, but after reaching the rank of commodore, on July 16, 1862, he was assigned to duty against blockade runners in the West Indies. The James River in the US state of Virginia is a long River, including its Jackson River source Events 622 - The beginning of the Islamic calendar. 1054 - Three Roman legates fractured relations between the Western and Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday A blockade runner is a term applied to ships used to evade a naval Blockade of a harbor or strait as opposed to confronting the blockaders to break the blockade The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting
As part of these duties, he visited the British colony of Bermuda. Ba (officially The Bermuda Islands or The Somers Isles) is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Acting on his orders, however violating the British rule that allowed American naval vessels (of either side) to remain in port for a single day, Wilkes remained in port for nearly a week aboard his flagship the Wachusett, while his gunboats Tioga and Sonoma blockaded St. George harbour, a key Confederate blockade-runner base. Built in Boston in 1861 Wachusett -- one of seven screw sloops-of-war authorized by the U Tioga constructed at the Boston Navy Yard Tioga -- one of 12 double-ended steam gunboats laid down in the summer and fall of 1861 -- was launched St George's (formally the Town of St George, or St George's Town) located on the island and within the parish of the same names was the first permanent settlement The gunboats prevented a number of ships from leaving the harbour, and opened fire at a Royal Mail Steamer, the Merlin. The actions of "The Notorious Wilkes"—as local media branded him—convinced many that full-scale war between the United States and the United Kingdom was inevitable, though the British government had no wish to enjoin the conflict between the Union and Confederacy. During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty-three The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South
Promotion controversy
Despite his accomplishments, Wilkes acquired a reputation as sometimes arrogant and capricious. This may have been due to his open conflict with Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles. Gideon Welles ( July 1, 1802 &ndash February 11, 1878) was the United States Secretary of the Navy from 1861 to 1869 This conflict was due to Secretary Welles recommendation that Wilkes had been too old to receive the rank of commodore under the act then governing promotions, and resulted in Wilkes writing a scathing letter to the Secretary of the Navy. The United States Secretary of the Navy ( SECNAV) is the Civilian head of the Department of the Navy. This controversy ended in his being court-martialled in 1864 and being found guilty of disobedience of orders, insubordination, and other specifications. He was sentenced to public reprimand and suspension for three years. However, President Lincoln reduced the suspension to one year and the balance of charges were dropped. On July 25, 1866, he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral on the retired list. Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 1866 ( MDCCCLXVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
Last years
Some historians speculate, that Wilkes' obsessive behavior and harsh code of shipboard discipline reportedly shaped Herman Melville's characterization of Captain Ahab in Moby-Dick. Herman Melville (August 1 1819 &ndash September 28 1891 was an American novelist Short story writer Essayist and poet Moby-Dick is an 1851 Novel by Herman Melville. The story tells the adventures of the wandering sailor Ishmael and his voyage on the whaleship (Reference: The Stormy Petrel and the Whale, by David Jaffe, Port City Press, c1976. ) Such speculation is not made mention of in the U. S. Naval historical archives.
In addition to his invaluable contribution to U. S. Naval history and scientific study in his official Narrative of the Exploration Squadron (6 volumes), Wilkes also authored an autobiography.
Wilkes died in Washington, D. C. on February 8, 1877 with the rank of Rear Admiral. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Events 421 - Constantius III becomes co- Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1877 ( MDCCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
In August 1909, the United States paid its final tribute to Rear Admiral Wilkes by moving his remains to Arlington National Cemetery. Year 1909 ( MCMIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States, established during the American Civil War
References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone
- This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships ( DANFS for short is the primary reference work for the basic facts about every Ship ever used
- Arlington Cemetery Biography
- John S. Jenkins, Explorations and Adventures in and around the Pacific and Antarctic Oceans;
- Voyage of the U. S. Exploring Squadron , Hurst & Co. , Publishers, New York 1856
- U.S. Naval History Center Official biography of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes
- Smithsonian Digital Library Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, Charles Wilkes USN
- W. Bixby, The Forgotten Voyage of Charles Wilkes, 1966.
- R. Silverberg, Stormy Voyager, 1968.
- A. Gurney, The Race to the White Continent, 2000.
- N. Philbrick, Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, The U. S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842, 2003.
- Guide to the Charles Wilkes Papers, 1816-1876
- Wilkes, Charles (1851). Voyage round the world, Embracing the principal events of the narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition. G. P. Putnam.
External links
- David Rumsey: 1844 Map of the Oregon Territory
- David Rumsey Historical Map Collection: Tickler
- Works by or about Charles Wilkes in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
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