John Fearn (born c. 1768, fl. 1798) was an English ship captain, notable as the first European to report sighting the Pacific island of Nauru.[1] He was probably born on 24 August 1768 in Kingston upon Hull.[2]
Map of Nauru, 1914
Voyage of discoveryedit
Captain Fearn departed Calcutta in the first half of 1798 in command of the snowHunter (300 tons), owned by Campbell, Clarke & Co of Calcutta. Among those on board was supercargo and partner in the firm that owned the vessel, Robert Campbell. The newly built vessel was named after the then governor of New South Wales, John Hunter, and carried a speculative cargo of mixed goods. It arrived at Sydney on 17 June 1798 where it, "came to a very advantageous market, the Colony being at the time of her arrival, in great want of stores and provisions".[3][4]
Hunter departed Sydney 20 August 1798 bound for New Zealand. On arrival six weeks was spent at the Thames River, in the North Island, taking spars.[5][6] She sailed from New Zealand in October and went on to discover Hunter Island (sometimes called Fearn Island) and then Nauru, which was sighted on 8 November 1798.[7][8][9][10] Captain Fearn named it Pleasant Island due to its attractive appearance.[8]
Fearn was commemorated on the obverse of a $10 Nauruan coin[11] and on a Nauruan postage stamp issued in 1974.[12]
Fearn has frequently been confused with his contemporary namesake, a British philosopher who spent some years as an officer in the Royal Navy.[12]
^Register of Bowl Alley Lane Presbyterian Chapel quoted in "England Births and Christenings, 1538–1975, database, FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
^Steven, Margaret (1965) Merchant Campbell 1769–1846: A study of colonial trade, Melbourne, Oxford University Press, p.24
^Cumpston, J. S. (1977) Shipping arrivals & departures Sydney, 1788–1825, Canberra, Roebuck, p.33. ISBN0909434158
^Richards, Rhys (1986). "The Easternmost Route to China 1787–1792: Part II". The Great Circle. 8 (2): 104–116. ISSN 0156-8698. JSTOR 41562547.
^The Naval Chronicle, Volume 2. J. Gold. 1799. pp. 536–7. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
^ abPurdy, John (1816). The Oriental Navigator, Or, Directions for Sailing To, From, and Upon the Coasts Of, the East-Indies, China, Australia, Etc. James Whittle and Richard Holmes Laurie. p. 698. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
^"Nauru profile". BBC News. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
^Sharp, Andrew (1962), The discovery of the Pacific Islands, Oxford University Press, p.181
^ ab"Mystery ship on Nauru stamp". Pacific Islands Monthly. 45 (5): 16. 1 May 1974. Retrieved 5 June 2019 – via Trove (National Library of Australia).
January 01, 1970
john, fearn, whaler, confused, with, john, fearn, philosopher, john, fearn, born, 1768, 1798, english, ship, captain, notable, first, european, report, sighting, pacific, island, nauru, probably, born, august, 1768, kingston, upon, hull, nauru, 1914voyage, dis. Not to be confused with John Fearn philosopher John Fearn born c 1768 fl 1798 was an English ship captain notable as the first European to report sighting the Pacific island of Nauru 1 He was probably born on 24 August 1768 in Kingston upon Hull 2 Map of Nauru 1914Voyage of discovery editCaptain Fearn departed Calcutta in the first half of 1798 in command of the snow Hunter 300 tons owned by Campbell Clarke amp Co of Calcutta Among those on board was supercargo and partner in the firm that owned the vessel Robert Campbell The newly built vessel was named after the then governor of New South Wales John Hunter and carried a speculative cargo of mixed goods It arrived at Sydney on 17 June 1798 where it came to a very advantageous market the Colony being at the time of her arrival in great want of stores and provisions 3 4 Hunter departed Sydney 20 August 1798 bound for New Zealand On arrival six weeks was spent at the Thames River in the North Island taking spars 5 6 She sailed from New Zealand in October and went on to discover Hunter Island sometimes called Fearn Island and then Nauru which was sighted on 8 November 1798 7 8 9 10 Captain Fearn named it Pleasant Island due to its attractive appearance 8 Fearn was commemorated on the obverse of a 10 Nauruan coin 11 and on a Nauruan postage stamp issued in 1974 12 Fearn has frequently been confused with his contemporary namesake a British philosopher who spent some years as an officer in the Royal Navy 12 References edit multiple authors and consultors Dorling Kindersley History original title ISBN 978 989 550 607 1 Register of Bowl Alley Lane Presbyterian Chapel quoted in England Births and Christenings 1538 1975 database FamilySearch FamilySearch Retrieved 4 September 2016 Steven Margaret 1965 Merchant Campbell 1769 1846 A study of colonial trade Melbourne Oxford University Press p 24 Cumpston J S 1977 Shipping arrivals amp departures Sydney 1788 1825 Canberra Roebuck p 33 ISBN 0909434158 Cumpston p 33 Richards Rhys 1986 The Easternmost Route to China 1787 1792 Part II The Great Circle 8 2 104 116 ISSN 0156 8698 JSTOR 41562547 The Naval Chronicle Volume 2 J Gold 1799 pp 536 7 Retrieved 5 June 2019 a b Purdy John 1816 The Oriental Navigator Or Directions for Sailing To From and Upon the Coasts Of the East Indies China Australia Etc James Whittle and Richard Holmes Laurie p 698 Retrieved 5 June 2019 Nauru profile BBC News 24 October 2011 Retrieved 6 May 2012 Sharp Andrew 1962 The discovery of the Pacific Islands Oxford University Press p 181 Nauru Stamps Retrieved 5 June 2019 a b Mystery ship on Nauru stamp Pacific Islands Monthly 45 5 16 1 May 1974 Retrieved 5 June 2019 via Trove National Library of Australia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Fearn whaler amp oldid 1158966418, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
