Charles Wilkes

Beginning of career

Charles Wilkes was born in 1798 in New York. After the death of his/her mother, Mary Seton, in 1802 it is raised by his/her aunt, Elizabeth Ann Seton which will be the first American woman with being canonized by the Catholic church. Charles makes his studies with the Université of Columbia, enters the United States Navy like Aspirant in 1818, and becomes lieutenant in 1826.

The forwarding of the South Seas

In 1838, in spite of its lack of experience as a commander, Wilkes is named responsible for a forwarding of exploration elected by the American Congrès in 1836, with a principal aim to produce more precise charts of navigation for maritime industry.

This forwarding ( United States Exploring Forwarding , more known under the name of Wilkes Forwarding ), includes Naturaliste S, Botaniste S, a Minéralogiste, Taxidermiste S like various artists. It is transported by 6 ships, going from 780 to 96 tons.

Started from Hampton Roads the August 18th 1838, forwarding stops first of all in the island of Madeira and with Rio de Janeiro, visit the Ground of Fire, the Chile, the Peru, the Archipel of Tuamotu, Samoa then the News-Wales of the South in Australia. Since Sydney, it will sail in the Antarctic Ocean in December 1839 where the members will announce the discovery Antarctic continent to the west of the Îles Balleny . Then, she will visit Fiji and the islands Hawaii in 1840, will go up along the west coast of the United States by exploring the Puget Sound, the river Columbia, the Baie of San Francisco and the Sacramento river in 1841. Lastly, it will turn over to its starting point while passing by the Filipino , Borneo, Singapore, the Polynésie and the Cape of Good Hope, newcomer with New York the June 10th 1842.

On the whole, forwarding traversed more than 87.000 miles and because the loss of two ships and 28 sailors. On its return, Wilkes is translated in front of a martial Cour, and is discharged from all the loads retained against him, except that of punishments without valid reasons members of its crew. From 1844 with 1861, it passes the majority of its time to write the report/ratio of its forwarding ( Narrative off the United States Exploring Expedition ) in five volumes, plus a atlas. It also publishes the scientific reports/ratios of forwarding (twenty volumes and eleven atlases) between 1844 and 1874 whose it writes personally volumes XI (Météorologie) and XIII (Hydrographie).

This report/ratio contains many information on the political conditions and economic of the tribes met. The contributions of James Dwight Dana published in 1846 and 1849 are also particularly noticed. Lastly, the samples and specimens collected by the members of forwarding constitute the base of the collection of the Smithsonian Institution.

In 1849, Wilkes publishes its principal work Western America, including California and Oregon then, in 1856, Theory off the Winds .

Way of forwarding

The American Civil War

With the release of the American Civil War, Wilks, then Captain, are assigned with the command of the San Jacinto with, like mission, the research of the trading vessel confederated the Sumter .

The business of the Trent

The November 8th 1861 it hails the the Trent, a British ship and unloads the diplomats James Mr. Mason and John Slidell left on mission for the Confédération after the United Kingdom and France, which will cause a crisis situation between the United States and the United Kingdom. Although officially congratulated by the congress for this operation, Wilkes will be thereafter repudiated by the president Lincoln and will be placed in the fleet patrolling on the river James. The July 16th 1862, named commodore, it is sent in the the Antilles.

Discusses on its promotion

In spite of its successes, Wilkes acquired the reputation of an arrogant, cruel and capricious chief. Withdrawn of the active service in November 1862 because, officially, of its too high age, it engages a long controversy with the persons in charge of Navy. This history ends in a translation before the martial court in 1864 and a three year old suspension. However, the July 25th 1866, it is promoted vice-admiral (2nd section) in retirement.

Anecdotes

the character and the obsession of Wilkes for the discipline on board would have inspired Hermann Melville for the character of the Achab captain in the novel Moby Dick.
In August 1909, its ashes are officially transferred to the military cemetery from Arlington on official decision from the government.

See too

Internal bonds

Business of the Trent

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