Voyage of HMS Blonde to the Sandwich Islands, in the Years 1824–1825
Captain the Right Hon. Lord Byron, Commander

First published in 1826, this work combines an account of George Anson Byron's 1824–5 voyage with a history of Hawaii.

Maria Callcott (Compiled by)

9781108062114, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 31 October 2013

306 pages, 12 b/w illus. 3 maps
25.4 x 17.8 x 1.6 cm, 0.54 kg

George Anson Byron (1789–1868), cousin of the famous poet, was a naval officer and the seventh Baron Byron. When the king and queen of Hawaii died of measles in July 1824 on a visit to England, Byron was chosen to lead the voyage that returned the bodies to their native land. Prepared by Maria Graham (1785–1842), known later as Lady Callcott, this work was published in 1826 and organised into two parts: the first gives a brief history of the islands, culminating in an account of the fatal visit; the second and larger part is compiled from the journals of those on board HMS Blonde. Engravings made from the drawings of the ship's artist, Robert Dampier, complement observations about the geography of Hawaii, its people and their customs. The remarkable journey home involved the first European sighting of Malden Island and the rescue of survivors from a shipwreck.

Part I. Introduction and Early History
Part II. The Voyage of the Blonde
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Australasian & Pacific history [HBJM]