What country did William Dampier sail for?
William Dampier. Dampier, orphaned at the age of 16, voyaged to Newfoundland and later sailed to the East Indies and the Gulf of Mexico. Between 1678 and 1691 he was engaged in piracy, chiefly along the west coast of South America and in the Pacific. On one voyage he reached Australia (1688), probably the north coast near Melville Island.
What was Sir Thomas Dampier's mission?
In 1699, Dampier was given command of the 26-gun warship HMS Roebuck, with a commission from King William III (who had ruled jointly with Queen Mary II until her death in 1694). His mission was to explore the east coast of New Holland, the name given by the Dutch to what is now Australia, and Dampier's intention was to travel there via Cape Horn .
What happened to Dampier after a voyage to New Holland?
Despite its success, A Voyage to New Holland, like all of Dampier’s books, made much more money for its unscrupulous publisher than it did for its author. In 1703, with England fighting the War of the Spanish Succession, Dampier returned to privateering. His first trip as commander of the pirate ship St George was a failure.
When did William Dampier Go Round the world?
In 1688 the English buccaneer William Dampier relaxed on New Holland’s northwestern coast. On returning to England, he published his Voyages and persuaded the Admiralty to back another venture. …revolving storms were recorded in William Dampier’s New Voyage Round the World.
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When did William Dampier go on his journey?
He sailed from England on Jan. 14, 1699, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and reached Shark Bay off western Australia on July 26. After exploring the coast northward to what was thereafter called Dampier Archipelago, he went on to New Guinea and, passing around the north of the island, reached New Britain.
What did William Dampier discover on his journey?
Dampier had discovered new territory, which he called Nova Britannia, or New Britain. He could have sailed southward to fulfill his original plan of surveying the eastern coast of New Holland, but the Roeb uck was worm-eaten, and the men were anxious to get home.
What was William Dampier's motivation?
Like most pirates, he was motivated partly by the desire for material gain. But Dampier also had an insatiable hunger to see and describe what was then a little-known world.
Why did William Dampier become a buccaneer?
Sometime around 1685 Dampier switched to the crew of the CYGNET supposedly in order to satisfy his curiosity and explore the north of Mexico, rather than as a direct pursuit of wealth.
Who was the first person to foot on Australia?
James Cook was the first recorded explorer to land on the east coast in 1770. He had with him maps showing the north, west and south coasts based on the earlier Dutch exploration.
Who was the first Englishman to visit Australia?
In 1688, William Dampier became the first Englishman to reach Australia. But in 1770 a British sailor, Captain James Cook, found the fertile east coast of Australia. He called it New South Wales, and claimed it for Britain.
What problems did they encounter in the first phase of voyage?
Unfortunately, the weather changed unfavourably during the expedition, resulting in massive massive waves. The sea grew raging, and a great explosion catapulted Cook from one wall to the other, and the waves violently overturned the ship, nearly capsizing it.
What challenges did William Dampier face?
The crazy condition of his ship, which caused her to founder on the homeward passage, prevented Dampier from pursuing his original plan of examining the seas east and south of New Guinea and deprived him of the honour of discovering the east coast of Australia.
What did William Dampier say about Australia?
"The inhabitants of this country are the miserabilist people in the world," Dampier wrote in his 1697 book A New Voyage Around The World. In describing how the Aboriginal people he met could not be induced to collect water for his ship, he said they instead "grinned like so many monkeys staring one upon another".
What does Dampier mean?
English (of Norman origin): habitational name from any of various places in northern France called Dampierre named in honor of St. Peter. The first element Dam- or Don is an Old French title of respect (from Latin dominus 'lord') often prefixed to the names of saints.
What is Dampier known for?
Built by Hamersley Iron in 1965, Dampier is the largest tonnage shipping port in Australia and houses the massive export facilities of Hamersley Iron, Dampier Salt and the North West Gas Shelf Project.
Who is William Dampier for kids?
William Dampier was an English pirate and explorer. He was important in the exploration of Australia and other islands in the South Pacific Ocean. He sailed around the world three times. Dampier was born in August 1651 in East Coker, Somerset, England.
Where did William Dampier discover?
Dampier headed for Dirk Hartog Island at the entrance to Shark Bay, near present-day Carnarvon in Western Australia. He made landfall on 6 August 1699. From there, he spent about three months charting the roughly 1400 kilometres of coast between Shark Bay and Lagrange Bay, south of Broome.
What is Dampier known for?
Built by Hamersley Iron in 1965, Dampier is the largest tonnage shipping port in Australia and houses the massive export facilities of Hamersley Iron, Dampier Salt and the North West Gas Shelf Project.
What did William Dampier say about Australia?
"The inhabitants of this country are the miserabilist people in the world," Dampier wrote in his 1697 book A New Voyage Around The World. In describing how the Aboriginal people he met could not be induced to collect water for his ship, he said they instead "grinned like so many monkeys staring one upon another".
What difficulties did William Dampier face?
The crazy condition of his ship, which caused her to founder on the homeward passage, prevented Dampier from pursuing his original plan of examining the seas east and south of New Guinea and deprived him of the honour of discovering the east coast of Australia.
Where did the explorers go after the Dampier Archipelago?
After exploring the coast northward to what was thereafter called Dampier Archipelago, he went on to New Guinea and, passing around the north of the island, reached New Britain. With a deteriorating ship and a discontented crew, he then continued to Batavia, Java (now Jakarta, Indon.), for repairs and provisions.
Who was the English buccaneer who relaxed on New Holland's northwestern coast?
In 1688 the English buccaneer William Dampier relaxed on New Holland’s northwestern coast. On returning to England, he published his Voyages and persuaded the Admiralty to back another venture. He traversed the western coast for 1,000 miles (1699–1700) and reported more fully than any previous explorer, but he did so…
Where did Dampier go to return to?
Return to England. Dampier intended to return to New Holland and visit the east coast. But the Roebuck was now leaking badly and his crew’s morale was running low, so he decided to return to England. The Roebuck finally sank at Ascension Island in the mid-Atlantic.
Where was William Dampier born?
An adventurous life. William Dampier was born to tenant farmers in a village in Somerset, England in August 1651. He went to sea at 17, and five years later joined the Royal Navy, fighting in the Third Anglo–Dutch War of 1672–74. He left the navy shortly afterwards and sailed to the West Indies, where he worked on a plantation.
Where did Dampier enter the Indian Ocean?
Instead he headed east and entered the Indian Ocean via the Cape of Good Hope (the tip of Africa), which meant it was the west coast of New Holland that he encountered, not the east. The west coast had already been mapped by the Dutch, most notably by Abel Tasman, whose chart Dampier used.
What was the role of Ascension Island in the Atlantic?
Ascension Island in the mid-Atlantic. Nations at war often bolstered their naval strength by authorising pirates to attack enemy merchant ships. This provided pirates with the opportunity to enjoy their plunder without fear of retribution. In 1678 Dampier returned to England and married his fiance, Judith, in Dorset.
Where did the Roebuck sink?
The Roebuck finally sank at Ascension Island in the mid-Atlantic. Everyone aboard survived, and Dampier was able to rescue his notes, diary and some specimens before the ship went down. Upon his return to England in 1701, Dampier was court-martialled for his mistreatment of Fisher.
When was the book A Voyage to New Holland published?
However, the expedition provided Dampier with the material for his next book, A Voyage to New Holland, which was published in two parts in 1703 and 1709.
Where did the Cygnet arrive?
In January 1688 the Cygnet arrived at King Sound, near present-day Broome, where the captain beached the ship for urgent repairs.
Which account of Dampier notes both his achievements and defects?
An account of Dampier which notes both his achievements and defects is Christopher Lloyd, William Dampier (1966). See also Clennell Wilkinson, Dampier: Explorer and Buccaneer (1929). There is an exciting account of buccaneers in the Caribbean and Pacific in P. K. Kemp and Christopher Lloyd, The Brethren of the Coast (1960). □
What happened to the Roebuck?
On the way home, the Roebuck was lost off Ascension Island, and the crew were rescued by returning East India men. A court-martial in 1702 found Dampier unfit to command a naval vessel. During the next 4 years he led an unsuccessful privateering expedition in the South Seas.
What was the importance of Dampier's book?
More importantly, it was also very useful as an account of unknown lands. He described the plants, animals, and people he encountered in great detail. He was also one of the first Europeans to describe a typhoon. Dampier’s book made others want to travel and explore further.
Who was William Dampier?
William Dampier. William Dampier was an English pirate and explorer. He was important in the exploration of Australia and other islands in the South Pacific Ocean. He sailed around the world three times.
What was the name of the ship that Dampier explored?
Dampier’s book made others want to travel and explore further. More than 10 years after Dampier first saw Australia, he was made commander of a ship, the Roebuck, to explore the South Pacific. He reached Shark Bay off the coast of western Australia in July 1699.
Where did the Roebuck sank?
He explored northward from the coast to what was later called the Dampier Archipelago. He then went to New Guinea and reached New Britain. The Roebuck was in bad condition and sank at Ascension Island in the South Atlantic in 1701.
Where was Dampier born?
Dampier was born in August 1651 in East Coker, Somerset, England. Both of his parents died by the time he was 16 years old. He trained to become a seaman and sailed all over the world. Between 1678 and 1691 Dampier was a pirate, or buccaneer.
When was the book A New Voyage Round the World published?
He spent several months on the northern coast of the continent. Dampier began keeping journals while at sea. His journals were published in 1697 as A New Voyage Round the World. The book was a great success. It was an entertaining tale of his buccaneering adventures.
Where did Dampier go after the Spanish attack?
After a series of failures, Dampier transferred to the Cygnet and sailed to Guam and the Philippines.
Where was William Dampier born?
William Dampier (son of George and Ann Dampier) was born in 1651 at East Corker, Somerset, England. Some books quote 1652 but this was a cousin - also named William - who was born to George's brother William Sr. Dampier was well educated and decided early in life that he wanted a life of exploration. (There is at least one report that both his ...
How many ships did the Privateers have?
To start with, the privateers had a large force of men (almost 500) and 9 ships. The first raid Dampier was engaged in was on Porto (Peurto) Bello but little treasure was found. The next target was Panama but this proved to be too difficult and the number of privateers had dwindled somewhat.
Why was Selkirk put off the ship?
The book 'Robinson Crusoe' by Daniel Defoe was based on Selkirk's experiences. Selkirk was put off the ship for complaining about the seaworthiness of the vessel.
When was the book A Voyage to New Holland published?
1703 - Published the book 'A Voyage to New Holland'.
Who was the captain of the ship that was forced off the ship?
Luckily for Dampier they reached Guam with 3 days rations to spare. Captain Swan was forced off the ship at Mindanao and was rumoured to have been murdered by the local ruler. Dampier was needed as navigator and so was kept on board when the ship sailed south.
When did the ship sail into the waters of Australia?
On January 15th 1688 the ship sailed into the waters of the north west coast of Australia. (January 5th is sometimes quoted but this was based on the old Julian calendar not the Georgian calendar that later came into use in Europe.)
Overview
William Dampier (baptised 5 September 1651; died March 1715) was an English explorer, pirate, privateer, navigator, and naturalist who became the first Englishman to explore parts of what is today Australia, and the first person to circumnavigate the world three times. He has also been described as Australia's first natural historian, as well as one of the most important British explorers of …
Early life
William Dampier was born at Hymerford House in East Coker, Somerset, in 1651. He was baptised on 5 September, but his precise date of birth is not recorded. He was educated at King's School, Bruton. Dampier sailed on two merchant voyages to Newfoundland and Java before joining the Royal Navy in 1673. He took part in the two Battles of Schooneveld in June of that year.
Dampier's service was cut short by a catastrophic illness, and he returned to England for several …
First circumnavigation
In 1679, Dampier joined the crew of the buccaneer (pirate) Captain Bartholomew Sharp on the Spanish Main of Central America, twice visiting the Bay of Campeche, or "Campeachy" as it was then known, on the north coast of Mexico. This led to his first circumnavigation, during which he accompanied a raid across the Isthmus of Darién in Panama and took part in the capture of Spanish ships on t…
Roebuck expedition
The publication of the book, A New Voyage Round the World, in 1697 was a popular sensation, creating interest at the Admiralty. In 1699, Dampier was given command of the 26-gun warship HMS Roebuck, with a commission from King William III (who had ruled jointly with Queen Mary II until her death in 1694). His mission was to explore the east coast of New Holland, the name given by the D…
Court martial
On his return from the Roebuck expedition, Dampier was court-martialled for cruelty. On the outward voyage, Dampier had his lieutenant, George Fisher, removed from the ship and jailed in Brazil. Fisher returned to England and complained about his treatment to the Admiralty. Dampier aggressively defended his conduct, but he was found guilty. His pay for the voyage was reduced, and he was dismissed from the Royal Navy.
Second circumnavigation
The War of the Spanish Succession had broken out in 1701, and English privateers were being readied to act against French and Spanish interests. Dampier was appointed commander of the 26-gun ship St George, with a crew of 120 men. They were joined by the 16-gun Cinque Ports with 63 men, and sailed on 11 September 1703 from Kinsale, Ireland. The two ships made a storm-tossed passage round Cape Horn, arriving at the Juan Fernández Islands off the coast of Chile in …
Third circumnavigation and death
In 1708, Dampier was engaged to serve on the privateer Duke, not as captain but as pilot. Duke beat its way into the South Pacific Ocean round Cape Horn in consort with a second ship, Duchess. Commanded by Woodes Rogers, this voyage was more successful: Selkirk was rescued on 2 February 1709, and the expedition amassed £147,975 (equivalent to £23.4 million today) worth of plundered goods. Most of that came from the capture of a Spanish galleon, Nuestra Se…
Legacy
Dampier influenced several figures better known than he:
• He made important contributions to navigation, collecting for the first time data on currents, winds and tides across all the world's oceans that was used by James Cook and Horatio Nelson.
• His travel journals depicting Panama may have influenced the undertaking of the ill-fated Darien Scheme, leading to the Act of …