''North West America'' was a British
merchant ship
A merchant ship, merchant vessel, trading vessel, or merchantman is a watercraft that transports cargo or carries passengers for hire. This is in contrast to pleasure craft, which are used for personal recreation, and naval ships, which are ...
that sailed on
maritime fur trading
The maritime fur trade was a ship-based fur trade system that focused on acquiring furs of sea otters and other animals from the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast and natives of Alaska. The furs were mostly sold in China in ...
ventures in the late 1780s. It was the first non-indigenous vessel built in the
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest (sometimes Cascadia, or simply abbreviated as PNW) is a geographic region in western North America bounded by its coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains to the east. Tho ...
. In 1789 it was captured at
Nootka Sound
, image = Morning on Nootka Sound.jpg
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, alt =
, caption = Clouds over Nootka Sound
, image_bathymetry =
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by
Esteban José Martínez Esteban () is a Spanish male given name, derived from Greek Στέφανος (Stéphanos) and related to the English names Steven and Stephen. Although in its original pronunciation the accent is on the penultimate syllable, English-speakers tend t ...
of
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
during the
Nootka Crisis
The Nootka Crisis, also known as the Spanish Armament, was an international incident and political dispute between the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation, the Spanish Empire, the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the fledgling United States of America triggered b ...
, after which it became part of the
Spanish Navy
The Spanish Navy or officially, the Armada, is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces and one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Spanish Navy was responsible for a number of major historic achievements in navigation, ...
and was renamed ''Santa Gertrudis la Magna'' and later ''Santa Saturnina''.
The vessel also played an important role in both British and Spanish exploration of the
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest (sometimes Cascadia, or simply abbreviated as PNW) is a geographic region in western North America bounded by its coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains to the east. Tho ...
, especially the
Strait of Juan de Fuca
The Strait of Juan de Fuca (officially named Juan de Fuca Strait in Canada) is a body of water about long that is the Salish Sea's outlet to the Pacific Ocean. The international boundary between Canada and the United States runs down the centre ...
,
San Juan Islands
The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific Northwest of the United States between the U.S. state of Washington and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The San Juan Islands are part of Washington state, and form the core of ...
, and the
Strait of Georgia. Under the Spanish commander
José María Narváez
José María Narváez (1768 – August 4, 1840) was a Spanish naval officer, explorer, and navigator notable for his work in the Gulf Islands and Lower Mainland of present-day British Columbia. In 1791, as commander of the schooner '' Santa ...
''Santa Saturnina'' was the first European vessel to find and explore the Strait of Georgia and the area that is the city of
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
today.
The vessel was a
schooner, or ''goleta'' in Spanish.
Its exact size is not known.
John Meares
John Meares (c. 1756 – 1809) was an English navigator, explorer, and maritime fur trader, best known for his role in the Nootka Crisis, which brought Britain and Spain to the brink of war.
Career
Meares' father was Charles Meares, "formerly an ...
wrote that ''North West America'' was about 40 to 50 tons (
bm).
Robert Haswell of ''
Columbia Rediviva
''Columbia Rediviva'' (commonly known as ''Columbia'') was a privately owned American ship under the command, first, of John Kendrick, and later Captain Robert Gray, best known for going to the Pacific Northwest for the maritime fur trade. ...
'', who watched the vessel launched, estimated it at about 30 tons.
The vessel may have been enlarged when it was renamed ''Santa Saturnina'', at which point it acquired the nickname ''La Orcasitas''. The ''Santa Saturnina'' was about long on the keel, of shallow
draft
Draft, The Draft, or Draught may refer to:
Watercraft dimensions
* Draft (hull), the distance from waterline to keel of a vessel
* Draft (sail), degree of curvature in a sail
* Air draft, distance from waterline to the highest point on a vesse ...
, and had eight oars.
British merchant vessel ''North West America''
![The launch of the North West America at Nootka Sound by John Meares](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/The_launch_of_the_North_West_America_at_Nootka_Sound_by_John_Meares.jpg)
''North West America'' was built at
Nootka Sound
, image = Morning on Nootka Sound.jpg
, image_size = 250px
, alt =
, caption = Clouds over Nootka Sound
, image_bathymetry =
, alt_bathymetry =
, caption_bathymetry = Map of Nootka So ...
,
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest by ...
, in 1788 from materials brought from Asia aboard ''
Felice Adventurer'', captain
John Meares
John Meares (c. 1756 – 1809) was an English navigator, explorer, and maritime fur trader, best known for his role in the Nootka Crisis, which brought Britain and Spain to the brink of war.
Career
Meares' father was Charles Meares, "formerly an ...
, and ''
Iphigenia Nubiana'', captain
William Douglas. These ships had sailed from
Macau
Macau or Macao (; ; ; ), officially the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (MSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China in the western Pearl River Delta by the South China Sea. With a p ...
in January 1788. Meares, who had cruised the Northwest Coast for furs in 1786 and 1787, intended to establish a permanent fur trading post at Nootka Sound. For that purpose he brought materials for building the vessel as well as a house. To assist with construction 50 Chinese men were hired and sailed with the expedition. They became the first Chinese known to have visited the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii.
Meares had chosen not to pay for licenses from the
East India Company
The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and South ...
and
South Sea Company
The South Sea Company (officially The Governor and Company of the merchants of Great Britain, trading to the South Seas and other parts of America, and for the encouragement of the Fishery) was a British joint-stock company founded in Ja ...
, which were legally required of British merchants working in East Asia and the Pacific Ocean. Instead he tried to conceal the illegal activity by using the flag of
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
and sailing under the titular Portuguese command of Francisco José Viana, who pretended to be the captain of ''Iphigenia''. After being built and launched, ''North West America'' also flew the Portuguese flag.
''North West America'' was launched on 20 September 1788. It was the first non-indigenous vessel built in the Pacific Northwest.
Command was given to
Robert Funter. Soon after the launch, Meares sailed ''Felice'' back to Macau.
On 27 October 1788 ''Iphigenia'' and ''North West America'' were towed out of Nootka Sound by
John Kendrick's longboats. They then sailed to the
Hawaiian Islands where they spent the winter. They arrived at
Maui on 6 December 1788, then sailed to the island of
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...
and anchored in
Kealakekua Bay
Kealakekua Bay is located on the Kona coast of the island of Hawaii about south of Kailua-Kona.
Settled over a thousand years ago, the surrounding area contains many archeological and historical sites such as religious temples (heiaus) and al ...
. Other than ''
Queen Charlotte
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Sophia Charlotte; 19 May 1744 – 17 November 1818) was Queen of Great Britain and of Ireland as the wife of King George III from their marriage on 8 September 1761 until the union of the two kingdoms ...
'', under Captain
George Dixon, and ''
King George'', under
Nathaniel Portlock
Nathaniel Portlock (c. 1748 – 12 September 1817) was a British ship's captain, maritime fur trader, and author.
He entered the Royal Navy in 1772 as an able seaman, serving in . In 1776 he joined as master's mate and served on the third Pac ...
, ''Iphigenia'' and ''North West America'' were the first European ships to visit Kealakekua Bay since Captain
James Cook was killed there in 1779. On 10 December the future king of the
Hawaiian Kingdom,
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I (; Kalani Paiea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiikui Kamehameha o Iolani i Kaiwikapu kaui Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea; – May 8 or 14, 1819), also known as Kamehameha the Great, was the conqueror and first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Th ...
visited the two vessels.
Over the winter of 1788–1789 Douglas and Funter sailed ''Iphigenia'' and ''North West America'' from island to island. In March, 1789, Douglas was ready to sail back to the Pacific Northwest coast. On 17 March 1789 Douglas and Funter left the Hawaiian Islands for Nootka Sound, where they hoped to meet Meares in another ship. Douglas arrived at Nootka Sound on 20 April 1789 and anchored near the
Nuu-chah-nulth
The Nuu-chah-nulth (; Nuučaan̓uł: ), also formerly referred to as the Nootka, Nutka, Aht, Nuuchahnulth or Tahkaht, are one of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast in Canada. The term Nuu-chah-nulth is used to describe fifte ...
village of
Yuquot
Yuquot , also known as Friendly Cove, is a small settlement of around six people—the Williams family of the Mowachaht band—plus two full-time lighthouse keepers, located on Nootka Island in Nootka Sound, just west of Vancouver Island, British C ...
. Funter took ''North West America'' on a fur trading cruise along the Pacific Northwest Coast before sailing to Nootka Sound, arriving there on 24 April 1789.
''North West America'' was then hauled up on the beach for repairs. ''Iphigenia'' was also in need of repairs.
Meanwhile, in Macau Meares and his business partners had decided to merge their company with their former rival, the
King George's Sound Company
The King George's Sound Company, also known as Richard Cadman Etches and Company after its "prime mover and principal investor", was an English company formed in 1785 to engage in the maritime fur trade on the northwest coast of North America. Th ...
, owned by the
Richard Cadman Etches and his brothers in London. The merged company was called by various names such as "The Associated Merchants of London and India", "The United Company of British Merchants Trading to the North West Coast of America", "The South Sea Company of London", or simply "the united Company".
Because the Etches brothers had proper licenses with the East India Company and South Sea Company, the several company ships that sailed to Nootka Sound in 1789 flew the British flag. The company's 1789 expedition and all its ships were put under the command of
James Colnett
James Colnett (1753 – 1 September 1806) was an officer of the British Royal Navy, an explorer, and a maritime fur trader. He served under James Cook during Cook's second voyage of exploration. Later he led two private trading expeditions that ...
, including ''Iphigenia'' and ''North West America''. Until they learned about the new situation, Douglas and Funter continued to fly Portuguese flags and pretended to be under the command of the Portuguese captain Viana.
Nootka Incident
Before Colnett's ships arrived ''North West America'' was ready for sea again. Funter set out on a trading voyage to the north, departing Nootka Sound on 28 April 1789. Two days later
Robert Gray left with ''
Lady Washington
''Lady Washington'' is a ship name shared by at least four different 80-100 ton-class Sloop-of-war and merchant sailing vessels during two different time periods. The original sailed during the American Revolutionary War and harassed British shi ...
''. The only ships left in Nootka Sound were Douglas's ''Iphigenia'' and John Kendrick's ''
Columbia Rediviva
''Columbia Rediviva'' (commonly known as ''Columbia'') was a privately owned American ship under the command, first, of John Kendrick, and later Captain Robert Gray, best known for going to the Pacific Northwest for the maritime fur trade. ...
'' when on 6 May 1789 the Spanish warship ''
Princesa'', under
Esteban José Martínez Esteban () is a Spanish male given name, derived from Greek Στέφανος (Stéphanos) and related to the English names Steven and Stephen. Although in its original pronunciation the accent is on the penultimate syllable, English-speakers tend t ...
, entered the harbor to build an outpost and assert Spanish sovereignty. On May 12 the 16–gun ''San Carlos'', under
Gonzalo López de Haro
Gonzalo López de Haro (bef. 1788 in Puebla – 1823) was a Spanish explorer, notable for his expeditions in the Pacific Northwest in the late 18th century.
Background
In 1788 two ships were sent north to investigate Russian activity in Alask ...
arrived, reinforcing Martínez, who then arrested Captain Douglas and seized ''Iphigenia'', the first event in what soon became an international incident called the
Nootka Crisis
The Nootka Crisis, also known as the Spanish Armament, was an international incident and political dispute between the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation, the Spanish Empire, the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the fledgling United States of America triggered b ...
.
After lengthy negotiation between Martínez and Douglas, Martínez released Douglas and allowed him to depart with ''Iphigenia''. Douglas left Nootka Sound on 1 June 1789. He hoped to encounter Funter returning on ''North West America'' but the vessels missed each other. On June 8 Funter sailed ''North West America'' into Nootka Sound. In a series of events similar to what had happened to Douglas and ''Iphigenia'', Funter and his crew were soon arrested and ''North West America'' seized.
According to
Joseph Ingraham
Joseph Ingraham (1762–1800) was an American sailor and maritime fur trader who discovered several islands of the Marquesas Islands while on his way to trade along the west coast of North America. He was also a prisoner in the American Revolutio ...
, second mate of ''Columbia'', Martínez had paid to repair and provision ''Iphigenia'' and had an agreement with Douglas that ''North West America'' would be held as security for these costs, not because of any threat to Spanish sovereignty.
Due to the way the events of the Nootka Crisis played out, and that Douglas was never able to repay Martínez, ''North West America'' was never returned to the British. It became a Spanish ship, renamed ''Santa Gertrudis la Magna'' and, later, ''Santa Saturnina''.
Spanish naval vessel ''Santa Gertrudis la Magna''
On 21 June 1789, Martínez dispatched
José María Narváez
José María Narváez (1768 – August 4, 1840) was a Spanish naval officer, explorer, and navigator notable for his work in the Gulf Islands and Lower Mainland of present-day British Columbia. In 1791, as commander of the schooner '' Santa ...
in the captured ''North West America'', renamed ''Santa Gertrudis la Magna'', to explore inlets to the south of Nootka Sound.
By early July Narváez returned to Nootka, having sailed about into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, demonstrating that it was a very large inlet. He also visited the
Makah
The Makah (; Klallam: ''màq̓áʔa'')Renker, Ann M., and Gunther, Erna (1990). "Makah". In "Northwest Coast", ed. Wayne Suttles. Vol. 7 of '' Handbook of North American Indians'', ed. William C. Sturtevant. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Instit ...
village at
Neah Bay
Neah Bay is a census-designated place (CDP) on the Makah Reservation in Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 865 at the 2010 census. It is across the Canada–US border from British Columbia. Originally called "Scarboro ...
, the first Spaniard to do so.
After hearing Narváez's report, Martínez felt that the Strait of Juan de Fuca was the entrance of the legendary
Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage (NWP) is the sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The eastern route along the Arc ...
and of extreme strategic importance. Therefore, he placed
Gonzalo López de Haro
Gonzalo López de Haro (bef. 1788 in Puebla – 1823) was a Spanish explorer, notable for his expeditions in the Pacific Northwest in the late 18th century.
Background
In 1788 two ships were sent north to investigate Russian activity in Alask ...
and Narváez in command of ''San Carlos'' and the captured ''
Princess Royal
Princess Royal is a style customarily (but not automatically) awarded by a British monarch to their eldest daughter. Although purely honorary, it is the highest honour that may be given to a female member of the royal family. There have been se ...
'', renamed ''Princesa Real'', and sent them to the Spanish naval base at
San Blas with news about the strait. In October, Martínez completely evacuated Nootka Sound and returned to San Blas himself, with his prisoners and captured ships.
Spanish records about ''Santa Gertrudis la Magna'', often simply called ''Santa Gertrudis'', can be confusing and difficult to interpret, in part because a Spanish warship called ''Santa Gertrudis'' was redeployed from
Callao,
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = National seal
, national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
, to the San Blas Naval Department in 1790. Over the next few years both vessels were in use at Nootka Sound and along the coast Northwest Coast.
Sometime before early 1791 ''Santa Gertrudis la Magna'', formerly ''North West America'', was renamed ''Santa Saturnina''.
Spanish naval vessel ''Santa Saturnina''
![Plano del Archipielago de Clayocuat 1791](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Plano_del_Archipielago_de_Clayocuat_1791.jpg)
On 4 May 1791 an exploring expedition under
Francisco de Eliza
Francisco de Eliza y Reventa (1759 – February 19, 1825) was a Spanish naval officer, navigator, and explorer. He is remembered mainly for his work in the Pacific Northwest. He was the commandant of the Spanish post in Nootka Sound on Vancou ...
, commanding ''San Carlos'', set out from Nootka Sound, with ''Santa Saturnina'' under the command of
José María Narváez
José María Narváez (1768 – August 4, 1840) was a Spanish naval officer, explorer, and navigator notable for his work in the Gulf Islands and Lower Mainland of present-day British Columbia. In 1791, as commander of the schooner '' Santa ...
(ranked ''segundo piloto havilitado'' (qualified second pilot—''piloto'' in Spanish being equivalent to
master
Master or masters may refer to:
Ranks or titles
* Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans
*Grandmaster (chess), National Master ...
in English).
Juan Pantoja y Arriaga (''primer piloto''),
José Antonio Verdia (''segundo piloto''), and
Juan Carrasco (''pilotín'', "pilot's mate"), were also involved.
Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra
Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra (22 May 1743 – 26 March 1794) was a Spanish Criollo naval officer operating in the Americas. Assigned to the Pacific coast Spanish Naval Department base at San Blas, in Viceroyalty of New Spain (present ...
, commandant of the Naval Department of San Blas, had instructed Eliza to explore
Bucareli Bay Bucareli Bay is a bay in the Alexander Archipelago, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is located off the western coast of Prince of Wales Island, between Baker Island and Suemez Island. To the east it connects to various wat ...
in Alaska and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, among other places. Accordingly, the expedition sailed north from Nootka Sound, but ''Santa Saturnina'' was greatly impeded by contrary winds, so after three days Eliza decided to turn south toward
Clayoquot Sound
, image = Clayoquot Sound - Near Tofino - Vancouver Island BC - Canada - 08.jpg
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, and not explore Bucareli Bay.
Narváez took ''Santa Saturnina'', with Carrasco and Verdía, to Clayoquot Sound and
Barkley Sound
, image = Fishing boat in the Broken Group Islands.jpg
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, alt =
, caption = Barkley Sound
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and spent about two weeks exploring and mapping. On two occasions in Barkley Sound ''Santa Saturnina'' was attacked by groups of about 200 Nuu-chah-nulth. Narváez used cannon fire to keep them away. According to Narváez, the natives were surprised to see the schooner and said they had never seen a Western vessel inside Barkley Sound.
[ From Barkley Sound Narváez took ''Santa Saturnina'' to rendezvous with Eliza at ]Esquimalt Harbour
Esquimalt Harbour is a natural harbour in Greater Victoria on the southern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. The entrance to Esquimalt Harbour is from the south off the Strait of Juan de Fuca through a narrow channel known as ...
, called ''Cordova'' by the Spanish, arriving there on 11 June 1791.
Eliza had Juan Pantoja y Arriaga, assisted by Narváez, Carrasco, and Verdía, take ''Santa Saturnina'' and a longboat to explore Haro Strait
, image = Southern Gulf Islands, BC, Canada - panoramio.jpg
, image_size = 250px
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, caption = View of Haro Strait from South Pender Island
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. The longboat was in length and had thirteen oars.[ Pantoja entered the strait on June 14. He sailed along the shores of ]San Juan Island
San Juan Island is the second-largest and most populous of the San Juan Islands in northwestern Washington, United States. It has a land area of 142.59 km2 (55.053 sq mi) and a population of 6,822 as of the 2000 census.
Washington State Fe ...
, Pender Island
Pender Island ( Saanich: ) is one of the Southern Gulf Islands located in the Gulf of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada. Pender Island is approximately in area and is home to about 2,250 permanent residents, as well as a large seasonal popula ...
, and Saturna Island
Saturna Island is a mountainous island, about in size, in the Southern Gulf Islands chain of British Columbia, Canada. It is situated approximately midway between the Lower Mainland of B.C. and Vancouver Island, and is the most easterly of the ...
, then entered the open waters of the Strait of Georgia, which was named ''Canal de Nuestra Señora del Rosario''. He continued east, reaching Rosario Strait
Rosario Strait is a strait in northern Washington state, separating San Juan County and Skagit and Whatcom Counties. It extends from the Strait of Juan de Fuca about north to the Strait of Georgia. The USGS defines its southern boundary as a ...
and Lummi Island
Lummi Island lies at the southwest corner of Whatcom County, Washington, United States, between the mainland part of the county and offshore San Juan County. The Lummi Indian Reservation is situated on a peninsula east of the island, but it d ...
, then returned the Esquimalt by the same route.
Eliza moved his base of operations from Esquimalt to ''Puerto de Quadra'' (present-day Port Discovery), on the southern side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. On 1 July Narváez took ''Santa Saturnina'' and the longboat to explore Rosario Strait, with Carrasco as ''piloto''. Narváez sailed through the strait, which he called ''Canal de Fidalgo''. He surveyed Guemes Island
Guemes Island is a small island in western Skagit County, Washington, United States. It is located north of Fidalgo Island and the city of Anacortes, and is accessible by private boat and by the Guemes Island ferry operated by Skagit County.
...
(''Islas de Guemes''), Cypress Island
Cypress Island is the westernmost part of Skagit County, Washington and is about halfway between the mainland and offshore San Juan County. It is separated from Blakely Island to the west by Rosario Strait and from Guemes Island to the east by ...
(''San Vincente''), and Lummi Island
Lummi Island lies at the southwest corner of Whatcom County, Washington, United States, between the mainland part of the county and offshore San Juan County. The Lummi Indian Reservation is situated on a peninsula east of the island, but it d ...
(''Pacheco''), explored Padilla Bay
Padilla Bay is a bay located in the U.S. state of Washington, between the San Juan Islands and the mainland. Fidalgo Island and Guemes Island lie to the west of Padilla Bay. Guemes Channel, between the islands, connects Padilla Bay to Rosario Str ...
(''Seno Padillo'') and Bellingham Bay
Bellingham Bay is a bay of the Salish Sea located in Washington State in the United States. It is separated from the Strait of Georgia on the west by the Lummi Peninsula, Portage Island, and Lummi Island. It is bordered on the east by Bellingha ...
(''Seno Gaston''), and anchored in Chuckanut Bay (''Puerto Socorro''), before heading north into the Strait of Georgia. He anchored in Birch Bay (''Puerto del Garzon'') and Drayton Harbor (''Punta de San José''), and sailed west across Boundary Bay
, image = Boundary Bay Regional Park in Tsawwassen.jpg
, image_size = 260px
, alt =
, caption = Looking east across Boundary Bay from Tsawwassen
, image_bathymetry =
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to round Point Roberts.[
From there Narváez took ''Santa Saturnina'' north far into the Strait of Georgia, the first Europeans to do so. He made a rough survey of the coast, including Point Roberts, ]Point Grey
Point Grey ( Squamish: Elḵsn) is a headland marking the southern entrance to English Bay and Burrard Inlet. The headland is the site of Wreck Beach, Tower Beach, Point Grey Beach and most notably, since 1925, on its top is the Point Grey Camp ...
(today part of the city of Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
), Burrard Inlet
french: Baie Burrard
, image = Burrard Inlet 201807.jpg
, image_size = 250px
, alt =
, caption = Aerial view of Burrard Inlet
, image_bathymetry = Burrard-Inlet-map-en.svg
, alt_bathymetry ...
, Texada Island
Texada Island is a large island located in the Strait of Georgia of British Columbia, Canada. With an area of , it is the largest island of the Gulf Islands and the third largest island in the Strait of Georgia after Whidbey Island in Washington ...
, Hornby Island
Hornby Island of British Columbia, Canada, is one of the two northernmost Gulf Islands, located near Vancouver Island's Comox Valley, the other being Denman Island.
A small community of 1,016 residents (as of the 2016 census), Hornby is home to ...
, Denman Island
Denman Island, or Sla-dai-aich (Taystayic), its Indigenous name, is one of the Northern Gulf Islands and part of the Comox Valley Regional District of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member of the Islands Trust group of islands and is home ...
, Nanaimo Harbour
Nanaimo Harbour, also known as the ''Port of Nanaimo'', is a natural harbour on the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The City of Nanaimo runs along the west side of the harbour. Three islands, Newcastle, Protection, ...
, Valdes Island
Valdes Island is one of the Gulf Islands located in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada. It is across Porlier Pass from Galiano Island, which lies to the southeast. It has an area of , and is wide by in length. The island is popu ...
, Porlier Pass, and Galiano Island
Galiano Island ( Hul'qumi'num: ''Swiikw'') is one of the Southern Gulf Islands located between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Located on the west side of the Strait of Georgia, the island is bordered by Mayn ...
.[ He returned to Port Discovery by a route not exactly known, arriving in late July. When ''Santa Saturnina'' had been in the vicinity of Point Grey Narváez noted large amounts of fresh water and correctly deduced the presence of a large river nearby—the Fraser River.] He also noted many whales in the Strait of Georgia, which suggested to Eliza that there must be another connection to the open ocean and that Nootka Sound was on an island rather than the mainland, as it is.
Because many of his sailors were sick, Eliza decided to return to Nootka Sound. He transferred Narváez to his command ship ''San Carlos'' and gave command of ''Santa Saturnina'' to Juan Carrasco. The two vessels sailed out of the Strait of Juan de Fuca together, finding and naming Port Angeles Harbor on the way. On 7 August they arrived at Neah Bay
Neah Bay is a census-designated place (CDP) on the Makah Reservation in Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 865 at the 2010 census. It is across the Canada–US border from British Columbia. Originally called "Scarboro ...
. From there ''San Carlos'' sailed north and reached Nootka Sound on 9 November. Carrasco was unable to beat upwind to Nootka so instead sailed ''Santa Saturnina'' south to Monterey
Monterey (; es, Monterrey; Ohlone: ) is a city located in Monterey County on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on the U.S. state of California's Central Coast. Founded on June 3, 1770, it functioned as the capital of Alta California under bot ...
and then San Blas. At Monterey he found the Malaspina Expedition
The Malaspina Expedition (1789–1794) was a five-year maritime scientific exploration commanded by Alessandro Malaspina and José de Bustamante y Guerra. Although the expedition receives its name from Malaspina, he always insisted on giving Bust ...
, under Alejandro Malaspina
Alejandro Malaspina (November 5, 1754 – April 9, 1810) was a Tuscan explorer who spent most of his life as a Spanish naval officer. Under a Spanish royal commission, he undertook a voyage around the world from 1786 to 1788, then, from 1789 t ...
, who therefore learned about the Strait of Georgia and arranged for two of his officers to explore it more thoroughly in 1792.
Fate
The ultimate fate of ''Santa Saturnina'' is not known. It seems to have become part of the small Spanish fleet based at San Blas, mostly tasked with supplying the Spanish missions in California
The Spanish missions in California ( es, Misiones españolas en California) comprise a
series of 21 religious outposts or missions established between 1769 and 1833 in what is now the U.S. state of California. Founded by Catholic priests ...
. In 1792 ''Santa Saturnina'', commanded by Juan Carrasco, sailed from San Blas to San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
. From there Carrasco sailed to Monterey
Monterey (; es, Monterrey; Ohlone: ) is a city located in Monterey County on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on the U.S. state of California's Central Coast. Founded on June 3, 1770, it functioned as the capital of Alta California under bot ...
to meet Bodega y Quadra and give him a Royal Order regarding the imminent negotiations with George Vancouver about resolving the Nootka Crisis. Further details about ''Santa Saturnina'' are unknown.
See also
* List of historical ships in British Columbia
The following is a list of vessels notable in the history of the Canadian province of British Columbia, including Spanish, Russian, American and other military vessels and all commercial vessels on inland waters as well as on saltwater routes up t ...
* Nootka Convention
The Nootka Sound Conventions were a series of three agreements between the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Great Britain, signed in the 1790s, which averted a war between the two countries over overlapping claims to portions of the Pacific No ...
References
{{reflist
1788 ships
Captured ships
History of Vancouver Island
Merchant ships of the United Kingdom
Oregon Country
Schooners
Ships built in British Columbia
Ships of the Spanish Navy
Spanish history in the Pacific Northwest