Tobias Furneaux | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Tobias Furneaux byJames Northcote | |
| Born | 21 August 1735 Plymouth |
| Died | 18 September 1781 (aged 46) |
| Buried | Plymouth |
| Allegiance |  Great Britain |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | |
| Battles / wars | Seven Years' War American War of Independence |
CaptainTobias Furneaux (21 August 1735 – 18 September 1781) was a Britishnavigator andRoyal Navy officer, who accompaniedJames Cook on his second voyage of exploration. He was one of the first men tocircumnavigate the world in both directions, and later commanded a British vessel during theAmerican War of Independence.
Furneaux was born at Swilly House nearStoke Damerel, Plymouth Dock, son of William Furneaux (1696–1748) of Swilly, and Susanna Wilcocks (1698–1775).[1] He entered theRoyal Navy and was employed on theFrench andAfrican coasts and in theWest Indies during the latter part of theSeven Years' War (1760–1763). He served as second lieutenant ofHMS Dolphin underCaptain Samuel Wallis on the latter's voyage round the globe (August 1766 – May 1768)[2] and due to Wallis being ill and confined to his cabin, Furneaux was the first European to set foot onTahiti, hoisting a pennant, turning a turf, and taking possession of the land in the name of His Majesty (25 June 1767).
In November 1771, Furneaux was given command of HMSAdventure, which accompaniedJames Cook (inResolution) on hissecond voyage. On this expedition Furneaux was twice separated from his leader (8 February 1773 to 19 May 1773; and 22 October 1773 to 14 July 1774, the date of his return to England). On the former occasion he explored a great part of the south and east coasts ofVan Diemen's Land (nowTasmania), and made the earliest British chart of the island.[2] Unfortunately he mapped several place names incorrectly. He glimpsed the opening toD'Entrecasteaux Channel and thought that wasStorm Bay. He thought he had roundedCape Pillar and was on the east coast just south of Cape Frederick Hendrik, whereas he had turned left one stop early and was atBruny Island, where he namedAdventure Bay for his ship. The cape to his north he assumed to be Cape Frederick Hendrik, with Frederick Hendrik Bay on the other side of it, so he put both names on his chart. Off to the north-east, Furneaux could see whereMaria Island should be, but there seemed to be a few extra sights of land, so he changed the name to Maria Isles.[3][4]
Most of his names here survive; Cook, visiting the shore-line on his third voyage, confirmed Furneaux's account and delineation of it, with certain minor criticisms and emendations, and named after him theFurneaux Group at the eastern entrance toBass Strait, and the group now known as theLow Archipelago.[2][5]
AfterAdventure was finally separated fromResolution offNew Zealand in October 1773, Furneaux returned home alone, bringing with himOmai of Ulaietea (Raiatea).[2] This first South Sea Islander to travel toGreat Britain returned to Tahiti with Cook on 12 August 1777.[6] Also of note is that Furneaux successfully introduced domestic animals and potatoes into the South Sea Islands.[2]
Furneaux was made a captain in 1775. During the American War of Independence, he commandedHMSSyren in the British attack of 28 June 1776 uponCharleston, South Carolina.[2]Syren, with Furneaux in command, was wrecked nearPoint Judith, Rhode Island on 6 November 1777.[7][Note 1] The Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP) has published a detailed history of theSyren's activities in theAmerican War of Independence, as well as some of the original documents related to her loss, confirming 6 November as the correct date. By 10 November Furneaux and his crew were prisoners inProvidence, Rhode Island, awaiting later exchange. RIMAP has also noted that theSyren is one of at least five ships associated with Captain Cook and his circumnavigating men with an historical connection to the State of Rhode Island.
Furneaux died unmarried in 1781 and was buried inStoke Damerel Church in Plymouth where he had been christened.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Furneaux, Tobias".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 11 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 362.
