The Epic Voyage of Captain George Vancouver: Madness, Betrayal and the Lash by Stephen R Bown

THE EPIC VOYAGE OF CAPTAIN GEORGE VANCOUVER
Madness, Betrayal and the Lash

By Stephen R. Bown

ISBN: 978-1-55365-339-4

Douglas & McIntyre




VINDICATED AFTER 200 YEARS

A review by Phillip Taylor MBE

Little had been written about George Vancouver until Ernie Coleman's excellent and uncomplicated biography in 2000, and Stephen Bown's new, detailed and scholarly work in 2008.

Bown's work is a re-evaluation of Vancouver's life and work - it's excellent in every respect. And it fills an important gap in 18th century naval history and surveying in North West America.

I live where Vancouver spent his last days in Petersham, Richmond, Surrey. We celebrate his life annually at a service in the churchyard where he is buried at St Peter's Church, Petersham. I have also visited beautiful Vancouver and the island, and travelled part of the North West coast of Northern America being married to a Vancouverite. Therefore, I have a special interest and regard for this man and the area he explored!

Let's get a few things straight about Vancouver!

He was an experienced sailor, having served on the last voyage of Captain Cook as a midshipman. However, Vancouver was not an experienced diplomat, but his record as Master and Captain of HMS Discovery from 1792-5 was very good for the times. Only one person died during the voyages and I can see from Bown's work that Vancouver cared for his men although he had an inexperienced crew and some malevolent officers including Sir Joseph Banks, the aristocrat Thomas Pitt, and the ship's surgeon.

You can't do much against this sort of list!

Vancouver's reputation was shattered and he died alone with little money on the completion of his surveys and diaries at the age of 40. Our services in Petersham over the 25 years I have attended are often sad occasions for me as I reflect on his life during the commemorations.

Bown's book is one of the best I have read for ages about this unpleasant period of British naval history when Captain Vancouver's name and contribution were smeared ... and he vindicates him.

It is a well researched and referenced book with many recorded stories which give light onto the problems of the times. And one gets the feeling of the period with this book brilliantly. It has 13 chapters in four parts plus great photographs which delve into great detail with a splendid list of sources and a bibliography at the back.

Bown paints Pitt, in particular, as the baddie (rightly) with few redeeming features, and he exposes the aristocratic establishment of the time hard for their unjust behaviour towards Vancouver.

I would probably not liked to have served under Vancouver as I can see some of the leadership problems he had to deal with - challenging behaviour from senior officers is difficult at the best of times, and I have had my fair share of them in the past.

However, I have a tremendous regard for George Vancouver which remains strengthened by Bown's biography, ending with this tribute:

He accomplished great things and, as our historical and cultural ancestor, he deserves a greater place in our collective memory.

He just got it here from Stephen Bown!

So thank you very much Mr Bown from an admirer where Vancouver now rests.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• richmond green chambers
• vancouver
• stephen r bown

[EMGRTaylor]

Mr Bown was awarded the British Columbia Booksellers award 2009 for this splendid biography