fbpx

10.05.

1798: George Vancouver – a British Captain who is Renowned in Canada

1798: George Vancouver – a British Captain who is Renowned in Canada
Photo Credit To http://m5.i.pbase.com/o3/11/513911/1/89079535.TVq99D52.Vancouverstatue.jpg

Vancouver Island is the largest island on the West Coast of North America, and the City of Vancouver is the largest settlement on Canada’s Pacific coast.



George Vancouver, British naval officer and explorer, died on this day in 1798. The City of Vancouver, one of the largest cities in Canada, was named after him. Vancouver is largest settlement on Canada`s Pacific coast and is located near the border between the United States and Canada.

Vancouver explored this area in the 18th century, as leader of a scientific expedition. Many other locations in Canada, and other parts of the world were named after George Vancouver. George Vancouver reached the rank of a captain in the British Royal Navy. In his youth, he and the famous explorer James Cook were passengers on the “HMS Resolution” and “HMS Discovery” (during the exploration of the Pacific).

When the French Revolution began in Europe, the United Kingdom and Spain came into conflict due to the Pacific coast between today’s Alaska and California. The Spaniards started their colonization in the south (in Mexico), and the British controlled the area of today`s Canada.

In order to strengthen their rights, the British sent their ships (under the command of George Vancouver) to this area. Vancouver sailed around Africa, across the Indian and Pacific Ocean, and reached the Pacific coast of Canada and the United States.




It is interesting to note that Vancouver`s expedition even met the Spaniards, led by Dionisio Alcalá Galiano and Cayetano Valdés y Flores. However, they didn`t start a fight; the British and the Spaniards continued their exploration.

Vancouver Island, the largest island on the West Coast of North America, was named after George Vancouver. The area of the Vancouver Island covers 31,285 square kilometers (more than area of Sicily and Sardinia). George Vancouver even came to Alaska. He returned to the UK, and died there in 1798, aged 40.

Facebook Comments Box






Related posts