United States Exploring Expedition (1838-1842)

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Description

The United States Exploring Expedition, also known as the Wilkes Expedition, was authorized by an act of Congress in 1836 as "a surveying and exploring expedition to the Pacific Ocean and South Seas." It was prompted by a desire to obtain information concerning an area which was rapidly becoming of interest to American traders and whalers. A contingent of scientists accompanied the expedition, commanded by Drayton, JosephLieutenant Charles Wilkes of the United States Navy, including Charles Pickering, Titian Ramsay Peale, Joseph Pitty Couthouy, James Dwight Dana, William Rich, William Dunlop Brackenridge, and Horatio Hale. In addition to the scientists, two illustrators, Joseph Drayton and Alfred T. Agate, also accompanied the expedition. The expedition, which consisted of five ships and crews provided by the United States Navy, sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, in August, 1838. By the time it returned to New York in June, 1842, it had visited and explored Madeira, both coasts of South America, Tierra del Fuego, the South Pacific islands, Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, the Hawaiian Islands, Oregon, California, the Philippine Islands, Singapore, the Cape of Good Hope, and St. Helena. Wilkes' voyage along the Antarctic coast during the expedition established the existence of that continent. During the voyage, the scientists gathered specimens and studied the flora and fauna of each place visited. At various points along the route specimens were packed and sent back to the United States. Eventually, the specimens were installed in the Great Hall of the Patent Office. They remained there until their removal to the Smithsonian Institution in 1858.

Date Range

1838 - 1842

Topic

  • Geology
  • Anthropology
  • Ichthyology
  • Plants
  • Invertebrates
  • Botany

Place

  • South America
  • Oregon
  • Fiji
  • South Pacific Ocean
  • California
  • Cape of Good Hope
  • Washington
  • New Zealand
  • Philippine Islands
  • Hawaiian Islands
  • Antarctica
  • Australia
  • Saint Helena
  • Tierra del Fuego

Form/Genre

Expedition name