William Smith and the Discovery of Antarctica
The entry below is a synopsis of our speakers talk on 1st February April 2023.
The presentation this week was by Mr. John Whittle. Captain William Smith made the first recorded landing in the British Antarctic Territory on the 16th October 1819 on King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, William Smith was born in Britain at Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, on 11 October 1790. In August 1811, Smith became owner and master of the Three Friends, from Blakeley, which transported coal to coastal towns of Britain. The following year he was one of a consortium, three with the first name of William, who built a trading vessel. It was appropriately named "Williams".
In 1827 he was recruited by Captain James Weddell and became master of an Arctic whaling ship out of Leith, which spent some years in the Davis Strait near Greenland. However after a bad season in 1830 he returned to London. Increasingly destitute, in 1838 he made an application for an alms-house but this was rejected as he was underage. He subsequently sought compensation from the Admiralty for his Antarctic discoveries. Despite there having been written confirmation, no record has been found showing any results. Captain Smith was eventually allocated alms-house accommodation where died in poverty seven years later, in 1847.
The first confirmed sighting of mainland Antarctica, on 27 January 1820, is attributed to the Russian expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev, discovering an ice shelf at Princess Martha Coast that later became known as the Fimbul Ice Shelf.
A very good morning for all our members who thoroughly enjoyed the presentation.
Questions followed on several points to conclude a delightful morning.
For further information Click on the link Antarctic Territory
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