THE COLUMBIA REDIVIVA - On this date in 1790 the American ship Columbia Rediviva arrived back in Boston Harbor under the command of Captain Robert Gray (at left), who had served in the Continental Navy during the Revolutionary War. This voyage marked America's first circumnavigation of the world.
The vessel had departed Boston Harbor on September 30th, 1787 under the command of Captain John Kendrick. The Columbia Rediviva was accompanied by the sloop Lady Washington, named for Martha Washington, who would become America's inaugural First Lady by the time the C.R. (Columbia Rediviva) returned to Boston.
The Lady Washington was captained by Robert Gray, but partway through the voyage around the world, Gray and Kendrick switched ships, causing minor errors in some sources ever since. Because Robert Gray is better known than John Kendrick there are sources which cite him as the commander of the C.R. during the entire circumnavigation.
No comments:
Post a Comment