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| Navigateur célèbre : Frederick William BEECHEY (1796-1856) |
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Sent in 1826 by the British Admiralty to join the polar expeditions of Parry and Franklin, the H.M.S Blossom, under the command of Captain Frederick William BEECHEY, was also commissioned to explore the Pacific islands on her route in order to collect as much hydrographic data as possible and carry out various types of scientific research involving geology, botany and zoology.
Captain BEECHEY carries out a reconnaissance of all the Gambier islands and about thirty Tuamotu islands, including some that were still unknown. He draws up maps and also corrects some positions indicated by famous predecessors such as Krusenstern and Duperrey. His surveys turn out to be extremely accurate. The best example is given by the survey of Osnaburgh atoll, discovered in 1767 by Philip Carteret and also known as Matilda’s Rock. It was named after the wreckage of a whaleboat in 1792, about which the crew of the Blossom found many traces. Today this atoll is more widely known as Moruroa.
The observations made during that four year long expedition are of paramount importance for the history of Polynesia. They tell about the natives’ living conditions, the missions’ activities and the political and social situation in Tahiti at that time.
C.BESLU |
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