Only a fraction of Fabian Gottlieb Benjamin Bellingshausen’s (aka Thaddeus, 1778-1852) long career in the Russian Navy was devoted to Antarctic exploration, his two-year expedition exploring Antarctic in 1819-21. It was nonetheless a notable venture as the second circumnavigation of the continent (the first was by Captain Cook in 1773-74), and the first actual sighting of the Continent in January 1820. His discovery of Alexander Island and the naming of the Bellingshausen Sea were not much honored in Russia since they were of little immediate practical use, but his achievements are now much more fully recognized, At least as translated and then edited in this version, Bellingshausen appears to have an easy-going if formal style of writing and shows himself to be a most judicious man in both his navigation and his leadership of the voyage, a character much doubted by his critics.
The Voyage of Captain Bellingshausen to the Antarctic Seas 1819-1821
- 1819-21 First Russian Antarctic Expedition commanded by Captain Thaddeus Bellingshausen (aboard Vostok and Mirny).
- “Discovery” of Antarctica.
- Antarctic Reading: Expeditions
Bellingshausen and the Russian Antarctic Expedition, 1819-21.
- 1819-21 First Russian Antarctic Expedition commanded by Captain Thaddeus Bellingshausen (aboard Vostok and Mirny).
- “Discovery” of Antarctica.
- Antarctic Reading: Expeditions
In an excellent overview of the Bellingshausen expedition, comprising both translations of relevant materials and commentary about the journey, Bulkeley’s Chapter 4, “Wanted on Voyage,” begins with an important section on Books and Instruments, telling us more about specific titles available on this trip than any other early voyage, with the possible exception of La Pérouse (q.v.):
A Voyage Round the World, in His Britannic Majesty’s Sloop, Resolution, Commanded by Capt. James Cook, during the Years 1772, 3, 4, and 5.
- 1772-75 British Naval Expedition–Second Voyage (Captain James Cook aboard the Resolution).
- “Discovery” of Antarctica.
- Antarctic Reading: Expeditions
This is the first appearance of Forster’s volumes. For a modern edition and further transcripts, see the Hakluyt Society edition below.
The Resolution Journal of Johann Reinhold Forster, 1772-1775.
- 1772-75 British Naval Expedition–Second Voyage (Captain James Cook aboard the Resolution).
- “Discovery” of Antarctica.
- Antarctic Reading: Expeditions
Forster and his father George were the naturalists on Cook’s Second Voyage, aboard Resolution, replacing Sir Joseph Banks who rejected the expedition in a dispute over cabin space, and possibly a mistress. Banks took his library and instruments with him, but the library was somehow replaced by the Forster collection. Anders Sparrman was another scientist who joined the scientific team for the second voyage. The four volumes of Forster’s Journal are studded with references to many books in several languages, mostly dealing with natural history or anthropology (e.g., plant names, the copulation of sea elephants, tattoos and lip piercing, but he quotes Virgil constantly). One may assume with some degree of likelihood that most of the books cited were aboard the ship. Included here are only page numbers of these references. For all the bookish knowledge of the father there is little indication of reading in the Antarctic regions, other than looking up references. [DS]
The Tactless Philosopher: Johann Reinhold Forster (1729-1798).
- 1772-75 British Naval Expedition–Second Voyage (Captain James Cook aboard the Resolution).
- “Discovery” of Antarctica.
- Antarctic Reading: Expeditions
A straightforward biography of Forster, the Anglo-German naturalist who replaced Sir Joseph Banks on Cook’s Second Voyage (1772-75), along with his son George.
A Voyage Round the World with Captain James Cook in H.M.S. Resolution by Anders Sparrman.
- 1772-75 British Naval Expedition–Second Voyage (Captain James Cook aboard the Resolution).
- “Discovery” of Antarctica.
- Antarctic Reading: Expeditions
A Swedish botanist who was taken on board Cook’s second voyage at Cape Town where Cook had met the Forsters. Forster had studied under Linneaus, who had recommended him for a South African botany project. He joined the Resolution reluctantly and suffered/or helped cause the usual hostilities between officers and scientists, what he calls the “contempt of ignorance.”
Captain Nathaniel Brown Palmer: An Old-Time Sailor of the Sea
- 1820-21 American Sealing Voyage to South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula aboard Hero and Express (commanded by George Pendleton with Nathaniel Palmer).
- “Discovery” of Antarctica.
- Antarctic Reading: Expeditions
This is a thoroughly hagiographic and somewhat jingoistic account of the American sealer and whaler many have considered the discoverer of the Antarctic continent. There is little about any extracurricular reading on Palmer’s voyage, but there is an emphasis on journals and log books, navigational manuals, and hydrographic charts.