Vancouver, George

(1758-1798)

   Entered British navy, 1771; sailed in the Resolution with Captain Cook on his second voyage, 1772-1775, and in the Discovery on his third voyage, 1776-1780. Lieutenant on the Martin, 1780; and served in the West Indies with Rodney, taking part in the battle of 1782. Appointed to the Europe, 1784; and to the Courageux, 1790, and promoted commander. In 1791 sent out in command of the Discovery, to survey the coast from lat. 30° N. to Cook's River, and to carry out the terms of the Nootka Convention. Through differences of opinion with the Spanish representative, Quadra, the latter part of his instructions could not be carried out, but the survey of the North-West Coast was carried out with such zeal and accuracy as to make it a permanent and very important addition to geographical knowledge. Returned to England in 1795, and spent the rest of his life preparing his journals for publication.

   Index: D Outline of his voyages to North-West Coast, 17; his skill, courage, and endurance, 19; search for North-West Passage, 19; meets Quadra at Nootka, 33; makes thorough exploration of entire Pacific coast from San Francisco to Bering Sea, 1792-1794, 34; finally leaves North-West Coast, Oct. 16, 1794, 15; meets Galiano and Valdez at Point Gray, 35. MS Mackenzie hears of, from Coast Indians, 85; his ships on the Pacific coast at time of Mackenzie's journey, 86.

   Bib.: Works: Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, 1790-1795. See also Bancroft, History of North-West Coast; Begg, History of British Columbia; Laut, Vikings of the Pacific; Meany, Vancouver's Discovery of Puget Sound; Dict. Nat. Biog.