Portal:Vancouver/Biographies/June 2007
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Captain George Vancouver RN (June 22, 1757 – May 12, 1798) was an officer of the Royal Navy, best known for his exploration of North America, including the Pacific coast along the Canadian province of British Columbia and the modern day American states of Washington and Oregon. He also explored the southwest coast of Australia and negotiated agreements with Hawaii's king Kamehameha I.
He was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England and at the age of fifteen he travelled to the Pacific aboard HMS Resolution, on Captain James Cook's second voyage (1772-1775). It was Vancouver's first naval service marking a long line of exploration. Various locations have been named after George Vancouver, notably Vancouver Island and the cities of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Vancouver, Washington. (read more)