Zachary Mudge
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Zachary (variously Zacharia or Zechariah) Mudge (January 22, 1770-1852) was an officer in the British Royal Navy, best known for serving in the historic Vancouver Expedition.[1]
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[edit] Early life
Mudge was one of 20 children of a famous physician, Dr. John Mudge, of Plymouth; his mother was John's 3rd wife, Elizabeth. The family included distinguished surveyors and mathematicians. His older half-brother was William Mudge, who developed the Ordnance Survey and was responsible for much of the early detailed mapping of Britain. Uncle Thomas Mudge was a famous horologist. In addition, the family was connected to the politically powerful Pitt family.
In 1780 (aged 10),Mudge joined HMS Foudroyant where he served as midshipman on the home and North American stations. He was serving on her when she captured the Pegase (April 21, 1782) and was promoted to lieutenant on May 24, 1789. He briefly served on HMS Europa until she paid off; on her he met several of his future companions on Vancouver's voyage.
[edit] The Vancouver Expedition
Main article: Vancouver Expedition
On December 15, 1790, Mudge joined HMS Discovery as 2nd Lieutenant; after the Great Spanish Armament crisis, he became her 1st Lieutenant[2] and George Vancouver captain. In addition to his other duties, Mudge had been asked to look after the 16-year-old (and future Baron) Thomas Pitt, but was compelled to administer a flogging when the latter used ship stores to purchase romantic favours in Tahiti.
In 1791, they voyaged to Tenerife, Cape Town, Australia, New Zealand, Hawai'i and North America. In 1972, they spent a season of exploring the west coast of America, and then put into Nootka Sound to implement the Nootka Sound Convention.
The British and Spanish Commanders had been given conflicting instructions, and the primary purpose of the mission could not be completed. Vancouver therefore sent Mudge back to England with dispatches, botanical samples and a request for further orders. He crossed the Pacific to China in the Portuguese-flagged trading vessel Fenis and St. Joseph, a 50-foot open boat carrying 14 men, and from there proceeded home via East Indiaman.[3]
In 1795, Mudge joined HMS Providence as first lieutenant, under William Robert Broughton. They were sent to assist Vancouver but, reaching Monterrey, determined that he had left for England. They then surveyed the east coast of Asia.[4]
[edit] Later career
Mudge's career advancement had suffered from being away. However through the intercession of Lady Camelford (Pitt's mother) he was promoted to Commander on November 24, 1797.[5]. In 1798 he commanded the sloop HMS Fly, off North America. Promoted to captain on November 15, 1800, he performed convoy duty on HMS Constance.
In September 1800, he moved to the frigate HMS Blanche on the West India station. Starting in 1803 she made many captures, but on July 15, 1805 Blanche encountered a French squadron. She resisted bravely, but she was reduced to a wreck. Mudge ordered her colours struck and she sunk soon after. Mudge was court-martialled on the question whether he had made his best defence; he was not only acquitted, but complimented for "very able and gallant" conduct.
Mudge commanded other ships until 1815. He became a rear-admiral on July 22, 1830; eventually the advancing years brought him promotion to full Admiral in 1849.
[edit] Legacy
Point Mudge on Quadra Island as well as Mudge island in the De courcy group; is named for Zachary Mudge; he was the first European to sight it from a nearby mountain [1].
"Mudge's Memoirs" was printed in 1883 in an edition of only 100 copies, edited by Stanford Raffles Fling.
[edit] References
- ^ Naish, John (1996). The Interwoven Lives of George Vancouver, Archibald Menzies, Joseph Whidbey and Peter Puget: The Vancouver Voyage of 1791-1795. The Edward Mellen Press, Ltd.. ISBN 0-7734-8857-X.
- ^ Muster Table of His Majesties Sloop The Discovery. Admiralty Records in the Public Record Office, U.K. (1791). Retrieved on December 15, 2006.
- ^ Wing, Robert and Newell, Gordon (1979). Peter Puget: Lieutenant on the Vancouver Expedition, fighting British naval officer, the man for whom Puget Sound was named. Gray Beard Publishing. ISBN 0-933686-00-5.
- ^ Robson, John (2006). A Short Biography of George Vancouver. Retrieved on February 8, 2007.
- ^ Westward by Sea: A Maritime Perspective on American Expansion, 1820-1890. Mystic Seaport (2002). Retrieved on February 8, 2007.
