1791: Chatham Islands Discovered

May 13, 2019

By AHNZ

Captain George Vancouver died today in history (12 May 1798¹) aged just 40. He first visited New Zealand as a teenage officer on Cook’s second expedition in 1773. The following year they discovered Norfolk Island, the naming of which may have been influenced by Vancouver’s home county, Norfolk, England. Vancouver’s statue stands by the sea there today (see image).

Vancouver followed in Cook’s footsteps as a naval explorer and navigator. The Captain met Maoris at Dusky Sound and tried to trade with them with little success. One, who had traded a spear, was exchanged a mirror for a “sea-bear skin coat.” The New Zealander was “so delighted with the reflection of his face in the looking glass provided in exchange, that he ran away with them [both!]²

Leaving New Zealand, on 29 November, 1791, massive storms blew one of his ships off course (HMS Chatham) leading to the discovery of The Chatham Islands which were named for the wayward brig and claimed for the Empire.

“In a misunderstanding with the ship’s crew, a Moriori man named Tamakaroro was shot..The elders believed Moriori were partly responsible and devised an appropriate ritual for greeting visitors in future.”- Ref. Te Ara

(Typical Moriori, right? SO ACCOMMODATING! When they settled the Chathams they didn’t take any testosterone on the waka. In 1835 this would be their undoing.)

In 1793, Vancouver signed up 2 Maoris for the ‘Teaching Flaxcraft Abroad’ education initiative for Norfolk Island convicts. Later, the 2 teachers were richly rewarded and returned home to New Zealand after what had been, technically speaking, kidnapped.

Vancouver also gives his name to my favourite Canadian city as well as the island on which their capital city stands.

—
Note: Vancouver’s expedition arrived 2/11/1791, departed 22/11

1 Canadian history records this date. Wikipedia says days earlier though.
2 ref. A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and Round the World, by George Vancouver; vol 1

Image ref. Captain Of Discovery: The Story Of George Vancouver; Roderick L. Haig-Brown (1956)

Image ref. http://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk

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