Glyndwr Williams

the quest for the Northwest Passage

Arctic labyrinth

Describes the expeditions embarked upon by sailors and speculators to navigate the Northwest Passage during the Age of Reason in the eighteenth century.

The Quest for the Northwest Passage

Voyages of Delusion

A collection of essays in honor of a scholar who has played a leading role in investigating the impact of scientific endeavors of the Enlightenment, specifically European maritime exploration. In addition to Williams' overview of British maritime exploration, contributors cover such themes as science and exploration, advances in navigational knowledge, schemes for imperial expansion, and culture contact in North America and the Pacific, and reflect on the nature of history and historiography. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Essays in Honour of Glyndwr Williams

Pacific Empires

Felipe Fernández-Armesto

Andrew David

Among the voyages of exploration and surveying in the late 18th century, that of Alejandro Malaspina best represents the high ideals and scientific interests of the Enlightenment. Italian-born, Malaspina entered the Spanish navy in 1774. In September 1788 he and fellow-officer José Bustamante submitted a plan to the Ministry of Marine for a voyage of survey and inspection to Spanish territories in the Americas and Philippines. The expedition was to produce hydrographic charts for the use of Spanish merchantmen and warships and to report on the political, economic and defensive state of Spain's overseas possessions. The plan was approved and in July 1789 Malaspina and Bustamante sailed from Cádiz in the purpose-built corvettes, Descubierta and Atrevida. On board the vessels were scientists and artists and an array of the latest surveying and astronomical instruments. The voyage lasted more than five years. On his return Malaspina was promoted Brigadier de la Real Armada, and began work on an account of the voyage in seven volumes to dwarf the narratives of his predecessors in the Pacific such as Cook and Bougainville. Among much else, it would contain sweeping recommendations for reform in the governance of Spain's overseas empire. But Malaspina became involved in political intrigue. In November 1795 he was arrested, stripped of his rank and sentenced to life imprisonment. Although released in 1803, Malaspina spent the last seven years of his life in obscure retirement in Italy. He never resumed work on the great edition, and his journal was not published in Spain until 1885. Only in recent years has a multi-volume edition appeared under the auspices of the Museo Naval, Madrid, that does justice to the achievements of what for long was a forgotten voyage. This first volume of a series of three contains Malaspina's diario or journal from 31 July 1789 to 14 December 1790, newly translated into English, with substantial introduction and commentary. Among the places visited and described are Montevideo, Puerto Deseado, Port Egmont, Puerto San Carlos, Valparaíso, Callao, Guayaquil and Panamá. Other texts include Malaspina's introduction to his intended edition, and his correspondence with the Minister of the Marine before and during the voyage.

Journal of the Voyage by Alejandro Malaspina. Volume I: Cádiz to Panamá

The Malaspina Expedition 1789–1794

Argues that the British Admiralty covered up details of explorer James Cook's death on a Hawaiian beach and facets of his personality in order to create a portrait of a hero.

A Hero Made and Unmade

The Death of Captain Cook

Malcolm Swanston

William H. Goetzmann

Thomas G. Williams

Isabelle Lewis (Cartographer)

Jacqueline Land

Chronologically charts the course of North American exploration

From the Norse Voyages to the Race to the Pole

The Atlas of North American Exploration

First Published in 1980. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Glyndwr Williams

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