Benjamin Morrell
American explorer (1795-1839) · United States · On the map · Historical Figures · Died at 44
Benjamin Morrell was an American sea captain, explorer and trader who made a number of voyages, mainly to the Atlantic, the Southern Ocean and the Pacific Islands.
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Photos 8
Map of the South Shetland Islands, scene of Morrell's first Antarctic adventures
Bouvet Island (1898 photo)
Sketch of Wasp's voyage track, November 20, 1822, to February 28, 1823, based on Morrell's claimed positions. Much of the return journey (continuous line) is within the Antarctic coastline.
Fernandina Island in the Galápagos, where Morrell witnessed a spectacular volcanic eruption on February 14, 1825
A 19th-century depiction of African slaves
A Pacific war canoe, with warriors. Morrell's party encountered similar armed vessels during its skirmishes in the Pacific isles.
Abby Jane MorrellAbout this person
In a ghost-written memoir, A Narrative of Four Voyages, which describes his sea-going life between 1823 and 1832, Morrell included numerous claims of discovery and achievement, many of which have been disputed by geographers and historians, and in some cases have been proven false. He ended his career as a fugitive, having wrecked his ship and misappropriated parts of the salvaged cargo.
