Sir Thomas Button (died April, 1634)[1] was a Welsh officer of the Royal Navy, notable as an explorer who in 1612–1613 commanded an expedition that unsuccessfully attempted to locate explorer Henry Hudson and to navigate the Northwest Passage.[2]
Born about 1575, he was the fourth son of Miles Button of Worlton, Glamorgan, and his wife Margaret, daughter of Edward Lewis. His father's family had been landowners, originally at Bitton in Gloucestershire, since the 1100s. Around 1595 he married Elizabeth, daughter of landowner Sir Walter Rice of Newton House, Llandeilo, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edward Mansell of Margam. This made him a nephew of the prominent naval officer Sir Robert Mansell, from whose patronage he benefited for the rest of his career.[3]
Arctic explorationedit
In April 1612 he was given command of two navy ships, Resolution and Discovery, to lead an expedition in search of the Northwest Passage. Sailing from England about the beginning of May 1612, they reached the mouth of a river which he named the Nelson after the ship's master, who had died.[4] They wintered at what is now known as Port Nelson and the next year headed north to search for the Northwest Passage. They lost the Resolution to sea ice and continued on to 65° North. He discovered and named Mansel Island and returned to England in September 1613.[5] He is credited with exploring and securing the west coast of Hudson Bay for his country, naming the area New Wales. The region would again be visited twelve years later in 1631 by Captains Thomas James and Luke Foxe. Supposedly, upon discovering a cross erected by Button at Port Nelson, Captain Foxe christened the shore north of the Nelson River as New North Wales and all the lands south as New South Wales. Button and his men were some of the first recorded Europeans to explore the area now known as Manitoba and his discovery meant that others followed after him, using his landmarks, his stories, and his detailed notes. The first maps of areas near Hudson Bay were struck from his explorations and from those of his predecessor, Henry Hudson.
Later lifeedit
On his return, he was appointed Admiral of the Irish Coasts in command of the Irish Squadron and on 30 August 1616 was knighted by the Lord Deputy of Ireland.[6] The activity of pirates and smugglers at Pwllheli in the Cardigan Bay occupied the subject in 1631.[7] Despite his standing in the Navy, his subsequent career was marked by prolonged quarrels with the Admiralty, wrongs being committed on both sides, resulting in the end with him in ill-health being stripped of his post as Admiral and left effectively bankrupt. He was buried on 8 April 1634 at the church of St Margaret's, Westminster, survived by his wife and five of their seven children. He left no will and his Welsh lands passed to his eldest son, Miles, who had to mortgage them to meet his father's debts. After waiting three years, his widow received 650 pounds (equivalent to about 98,000 pounds in 2015) from the government in settlement of pay and expenses he was owed.[3]
Referencesedit
^Lloyd, John Edward; Jenkins, R.T. (1958). The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, Down to 1940. Cardiff: William Lewis. p. 60.
^Marsh, James H. (28 October 2014). "Sir Thomas Button". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
^ abThrush, Andrew (2004). "Button, Sir Thomas (c.1575–1634)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/4235. Retrieved 17 December 2016. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^Robert Hood, C. Stuart Houston (1994). To the Arctic by Canoe, 1819-1821: The Journal and Paintings of Robert Hood, Midshipman with Franklin. p. 23. ISBN978-0-7735-1222-1. Retrieved 28 September 2008. Port Nelson, on the north shore of the peninsula and only twelve miles from York Factory, preceded York as an H.B.C. post in 1682-83. It is at the mouth of the Nelson River, discovered by Sir Thomas Button in 1612 and named after Button's sailing master, who died on the voyage.
^Robert Hood, C. Stuart Houston (1994). To the Arctic by Canoe, 1819-1821: The Journal and Paintings of Robert Hood, Midshipman with Franklin. p. 16. ISBN978-0-7735-1222-1. Retrieved 28 September 2008. ...named by Button in 1613, after Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Mansel (1573-1653).
^Evans, C.J.O. (1948). Glamorgan, its History and Topography. Cardiff: William Lewis. p. 147.
^"Charles I - volume 196: July 1-19, 1631." Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1631-3. Ed. John Bruce. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1862. 97-114. British History Online website Retrieved 7 June 2021.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas Button.
Eames, Aled (1979) [1966]. "Button, Sir Thomas". In Brown, George Williams (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. I (1000–1700) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
Manitoba Historical Society Biography of Button
April 09, 2024
thomas, button, died, april, 1634, welsh, officer, royal, navy, notable, explorer, 1612, 1613, commanded, expedition, that, unsuccessfully, attempted, locate, explorer, henry, hudson, navigate, northwest, passage, bornc, 1575walesdiedapril, 1634londonoccupatio. Sir Thomas Button died April 1634 1 was a Welsh officer of the Royal Navy notable as an explorer who in 1612 1613 commanded an expedition that unsuccessfully attempted to locate explorer Henry Hudson and to navigate the Northwest Passage 2 Sir Thomas ButtonBornC 1575WalesDiedApril 1634LondonOccupation s Officer of the Royal Navy and explorerSignature Contents 1 Early life 2 Arctic exploration 3 Later life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editBorn about 1575 he was the fourth son of Miles Button of Worlton Glamorgan and his wife Margaret daughter of Edward Lewis His father s family had been landowners originally at Bitton in Gloucestershire since the 1100s Around 1595 he married Elizabeth daughter of landowner Sir Walter Rice of Newton House Llandeilo and his wife Elizabeth daughter of Sir Edward Mansell of Margam This made him a nephew of the prominent naval officer Sir Robert Mansell from whose patronage he benefited for the rest of his career 3 Arctic exploration editIn April 1612 he was given command of two navy ships Resolution and Discovery to lead an expedition in search of the Northwest Passage Sailing from England about the beginning of May 1612 they reached the mouth of a river which he named the Nelson after the ship s master who had died 4 They wintered at what is now known as Port Nelson and the next year headed north to search for the Northwest Passage They lost the Resolution to sea ice and continued on to 65 North He discovered and named Mansel Island and returned to England in September 1613 5 He is credited with exploring and securing the west coast of Hudson Bay for his country naming the area New Wales The region would again be visited twelve years later in 1631 by Captains Thomas James and Luke Foxe Supposedly upon discovering a cross erected by Button at Port Nelson Captain Foxe christened the shore north of the Nelson River as New North Wales and all the lands south as New South Wales Button and his men were some of the first recorded Europeans to explore the area now known as Manitoba and his discovery meant that others followed after him using his landmarks his stories and his detailed notes The first maps of areas near Hudson Bay were struck from his explorations and from those of his predecessor Henry Hudson Later life editOn his return he was appointed Admiral of the Irish Coasts in command of the Irish Squadron and on 30 August 1616 was knighted by the Lord Deputy of Ireland 6 The activity of pirates and smugglers at Pwllheli in the Cardigan Bay occupied the subject in 1631 7 Despite his standing in the Navy his subsequent career was marked by prolonged quarrels with the Admiralty wrongs being committed on both sides resulting in the end with him in ill health being stripped of his post as Admiral and left effectively bankrupt He was buried on 8 April 1634 at the church of St Margaret s Westminster survived by his wife and five of their seven children He left no will and his Welsh lands passed to his eldest son Miles who had to mortgage them to meet his father s debts After waiting three years his widow received 650 pounds equivalent to about 98 000 pounds in 2015 from the government in settlement of pay and expenses he was owed 3 References edit Lloyd John Edward Jenkins R T 1958 The Dictionary of Welsh Biography Down to 1940 Cardiff William Lewis p 60 Marsh James H 28 October 2014 Sir Thomas Button The Canadian Encyclopedia Retrieved 23 August 2019 a b Thrush Andrew 2004 Button Sir Thomas c 1575 1634 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 4235 Retrieved 17 December 2016 Subscription or UK public library membership required Robert Hood C Stuart Houston 1994 To the Arctic by Canoe 1819 1821 The Journal and Paintings of Robert Hood Midshipman with Franklin p 23 ISBN 978 0 7735 1222 1 Retrieved 28 September 2008 Port Nelson on the north shore of the peninsula and only twelve miles from York Factory preceded York as an H B C post in 1682 83 It is at the mouth of the Nelson River discovered by Sir Thomas Button in 1612 and named after Button s sailing master who died on the voyage Robert Hood C Stuart Houston 1994 To the Arctic by Canoe 1819 1821 The Journal and Paintings of Robert Hood Midshipman with Franklin p 16 ISBN 978 0 7735 1222 1 Retrieved 28 September 2008 named by Button in 1613 after Vice Admiral Sir Robert Mansel 1573 1653 Evans C J O 1948 Glamorgan its History and Topography Cardiff William Lewis p 147 Charles I volume 196 July 1 19 1631 Calendar of State Papers Domestic Charles I 1631 3 Ed John Bruce London Her Majesty s Stationery Office 1862 97 114 British History Online website Retrieved 7 June 2021 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas Button Eames Aled 1979 1966 Button Sir Thomas In Brown George Williams ed Dictionary of Canadian Biography Vol I 1000 1700 online ed University of Toronto Press Manitoba Historical Society Biography of Button Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Button amp oldid 1159765350, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
