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America: A Voyage of Discovery: The Exploring Expedition 1838-1842

Andy Cole

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Published in Sea Of Glory: America S Voyage Of Discovery The U S Exploring Expedition 1838 1842

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The United States Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842, led by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, was one of the most ambitious and successful scientific expeditions in American history. The expedition's primary mission was to explore the vast and largely unknown Pacific Ocean, but it also conducted significant scientific research in other parts of the world, including Antarctica, Australia, and the Americas.

Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, The U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842

by Nathaniel Philbrick

4.5 out of 5

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The expedition's findings had a profound impact on American science and exploration. The expedition's scientists discovered new species of plants and animals, mapped new coastlines, and collected valuable data on the Earth's magnetism and meteorology. The expedition's findings also helped to shape American foreign policy, as they provided the United States with a better understanding of the Pacific region and its inhabitants.

The Expedition's Origins

The United States Exploring Expedition was the brainchild of President John Quincy Adams. Adams was a strong advocate for American exploration, and he believed that a scientific expedition to the Pacific Ocean would help to promote American commerce and national prestige.

In 1836, Congress authorized the expedition and appropriated $300,000 for its funding. The expedition was placed under the command of Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, a skilled navigator and explorer.

The Expedition's Ships

The United States Exploring Expedition was equipped with six ships: the USS Vincennes, the USS Peacock, the USS Porpoise, the USS Relief, the USS Sea Gull, and the USS Flying Fish. The Vincennes was the expedition's flagship, and it was commanded by Wilkes himself.

The other ships in the expedition were:

* The USS Peacock: Commanded by Lieutenant William L. Hudson * The USS Porpoise: Commanded by Lieutenant Cadwalader Ringgold * The USS Relief: Commanded by Lieutenant James Alden * The USS Sea Gull: Commanded by Lieutenant William M. Walker * The USS Flying Fish: Commanded by Lieutenant Thomas A. Dornin

The Expedition's Route

The United States Exploring Expedition departed from Norfolk, Virginia, on August 18, 1838. The expedition's route took it across the Atlantic Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope, and into the Pacific Ocean.

The expedition made stops at a number of islands in the Pacific Ocean, including the Hawaiian Islands, Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand. The expedition also explored the coastlines of Australia, Singapore, China, and Japan.

The expedition returned to the United States on June 10, 1842, after a journey of nearly four years.

The Expedition's Scientific Discoveries

The United States Exploring Expedition made a number of important scientific discoveries. The expedition's scientists discovered new species of plants and animals, mapped new coastlines, and collected valuable data on the Earth's magnetism and meteorology.

Some of the expedition's most important discoveries include:

* The discovery of Antarctica: The expedition was the first to sight the Antarctic continent. * The discovery of new species of plants and animals: The expedition's scientists discovered over 2,000 new species of plants and animals, including the giant squid and the flying fish. * The mapping of new coastlines: The expedition's scientists mapped over 8,000 miles of new coastline. * The collection of valuable data on the Earth's magnetism and meteorology: The expedition's scientists collected valuable data on the Earth's magnetism and meteorology, which helped to improve navigation and weather forecasting.

The Expedition's Cultural Encounters

The United States Exploring Expedition also had a number of cultural encounters with the people of the Pacific Ocean. The expedition's scientists and crew members interacted with a variety of cultures, including the Hawaiians, Tahitians, Samoans, Fijians, Tongans, New Zealanders, Australians, Chinese, and Japanese.

The expedition's cultural encounters were often positive, but there were also some tense moments. For example, the expedition's crew members were involved in a skirmish with the Fijians, and the expedition's scientists were sometimes frustrated by the cultural differences between the United States and the Pacific islands.

Overall, the expedition's cultural encounters helped to increase American understanding of the Pacific region and its inhabitants.

The Expedition's Impact

The United States Exploring Expedition had a profound impact on American science and exploration. The expedition's findings helped to shape American foreign policy, as they provided the United States with a better understanding of the Pacific region and its inhabitants.

The expedition's findings also had a significant impact on American science. The expedition's scientists discovered new species of plants and animals, mapped new coastlines, and collected valuable data on the Earth's magnetism and meteorology. These findings helped to advance American science and exploration.

The United States Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842 was one of the most ambitious and successful scientific expeditions in American history. The expedition's findings had a profound impact on American science, exploration, and foreign policy. The expedition's legacy continues to this day, as its findings continue to be used to advance scientific knowledge and exploration.

Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, The U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842

by Nathaniel Philbrick

4.5 out of 5