HMS Challenger set sail from Portsmouth in 1872 and spent three and a half years circumnavigating the globe. She established the foundations of oceanography and made an important contribution to 19th century science. Joseph Matkin, an assistant ship's steward, sent home letters which he composed from his journal. In these letters he commented on oceanographic activities, gave an account of life on board ship and described the history, geography and peoples of the ports at which the ship called on her circumnavigation.