Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: Vancouver Discovers West Coast of America
AssociatedAssociated with
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
(Frogmore House, Windsor, England, 1900 - 1979)
Medallist
John Pinches, Medallists
DateMay 2004
Object NameMedal
MediumSterling Silver
ClassificationsMedals
AcquisitionPresented in 2004 by Dr Joan M Burrell.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS072500.32
Keywords
Although the hope of establishing the existence of an open sea passage between the Pacific and the Atlantic had been dashed by the discoveries made on Cook's third voyage, it was still thought that there might be a waterway linking the Pacific seaboard and the Great Lakes. This would have had great significance for traders seeking to facilitate the important fur trade to Europe.
Following the Nootka Sound incident, and with a view to establishing British rights to prosecute trade and establish settlements on the Canadian Pacific coast, Vancouver was instructed to proceed to the Pacific, with the dual purpose of charting unexplored regions and consolidating British commercial interests. It was also intended that he should survey the Hawaiian Islands, important for the Southern Whale Fishery, and the west coast of South America.
Vancouver set sail in 1791 in the sloop Discovery accompanied by the brig Chatham and he and his companions made their headquarters on the Sandwich Islands. Vancouver then spent two productive years in surveying and charting part of the coast of South-west Australia, part of New Zealand, and he explored the Galapagos Islands. He also charted the north-west Pacific shores of North America with 'scrupulous exactness'.
Vancouver returned to England by way of Cape Horn in 1795 to find Britain at war with France. The explorer was engaged on an important narrative of his voyage at the time of his early death in 1798, and it was completed and published by his brother in the same year, as' A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean and Round the World'.
The Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea, John Pinches Medallists Ltd.
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
May 2004
