Mayhew Folger

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Mayhew Folger (March 9, 1774 - September 1, 1828) was a ship's captain, whaler, who captained the sealing ship Topaz that rediscovered the Pitcairn Islands in 1808. Only one of HMS Bounty's mutineers was still alive: Alexander Smith, whose alias was John Adams.

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[edit] Early life

Mayhew was born on March 9, 1774, in Nantucket, Massachusetts to William Folger and Ruth Coffin. Mayhew was a member of the Folger whaling family of Nantucket, Massachusetts. He was a first cousin three times removed of Benjamin Franklin on his father's side. He married his second cousin, Mary Joy on March 7, 1798 on Nantucket.

[edit] Rediscovery of the Pitcairn Islands

Mayhew Folger captained the ship Topaz that left Boston on April 5, 1807 hunting for seals. They rediscovered the Pitcairn Islands on February 6, 1808. Only one of the original HMS Bounty mutineers, Alexander Smith, whose real name was John Adams, was still alive. The Topaz remained at the island for only ten hours.

[edit] The Bounty's Chronometer

Captain Folger was given the Bounty's azimuth compass and Larcum Kendall K2 marine chronometer by Adams. The K2 was the third precision marine chronometer made after the H4, designed by John Harrison. The chronometer was taken by the Spanish governor at Juan Fernandez Island. The compass remained in Folger's possession and he made use of it aboard the Topaz until he reached Boston, where he put it in to an instrument maker for a new 'card' (face). He sent the compass to the Admiralty in 1813. The chronometer was later purchased by a Spaniard named Castillo. When he died, his family conveyed it to Captain Herbert of HMS Calliope, who had it conveyed to the British Museum around 1840. The chronometer is now in Greenwich, London.

[edit] Accounts of the rediscovery

The discovery was reported by Folger to the Royal Navy 1808, a report of which reached the British Admiralty on May 14, 1809. It was published in the Quarterly Review in 1810. Captain Folger also related an account of the discovery to his friend Captain Amasa Delano, who published the account in his book A Narrative of Voyages and Travels in 1817. This account is also included in the book Pitcarin Island, written by Charles Nordoff and James Hall.

[edit] Later years

He died September 1, 1828 in Massillon, Ohio.

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[edit] External References

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