Captain Vancouver : north-west navigator

A biography of George Vancouver (1757-1798), best known for his expedition in 1791-95 to explore and chart the North Western Pacific coast of North America. Born in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, Vancouver joined the Royal Navy in 1771 sailing on HMS Endeavour and HMS Discovery as part of Cook's second and third voyages. In 1791, as lieutenant he left England in command of a new HMS Discovery and HMS Chatham on an expedition to explore the Pacific visiting Cape Town, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Hawaii before heading to North America. There Vancouver visited the coastlines of what are now British Columbia, Alaska, Washington State, Oregon and California before returning to England. Promoted to Captain towards the end of his voyage, Vancouver's reputation was damaged as a result of high profile disputes which were said to have arisen during the course of his expedition including one with Thomas Pitt, cousin of Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger. Vancouver died in obscurity in 1798.