Thomas Manby Papers, 1790-1793

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Thomas Manby Papers
Title
Thomas Manby Papers
Dates
1790-1793 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 container., (.25 linear feet of shelf space.), (338 items.)
Collection Number
Cage 505
Summary
Journal of the voyage around the Cape of Good Hope, to Australia, New Zealand, the Sandwich Islands, and the coast of America. Includes explorations along the coast in search of a Northwest passage, the Straits of Juan de Fuca, Nootka Sound, the Columbia River, San Francisco and Monterey, winter in the Sandwich Islands, and return to the Northwest coast and Nootka Sound, with the George Vancouver Expedition.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Thomas Manby was born in 1769. He joined the Royal Navy in 1783 and was appointed to accompany Captain George Vancouver on his voyage to the North Pacific Ocean and the Pacific Northwest in 1790. The purpose of this voyage was to carry the Nootka treaty into effect, to go to the Sandwich Islands and then the Northwest Coast, there to examine all the European settlements, explore the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and investigate the story of the "Washington's" having circumnavigated Vancouver Island. The expedition departed with two ships, the Discovery and the Chatham. Manby was first a mate on the Discovery and was later appointed the master of the Chatham.

The expedition proceeded to the Cape of Good Hope. They entered the Indian Ocean on August 17, 1791 and stopped at New Holland, New Zealand, and Otahita Island, en route to the Sandwich Islands. They then sailed to the Pacific Northwest in search of a Northwest Passage, explored the Northwest Coast, including the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Port Discovery, Nootka Sound and Karakakooah Bay. The voyage was completed in 1795. Manby was later commissioned and rose to the rank of Rear Admiral. He died in 1834.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The greater part is written in a fine clear hand, probably not by the author. The last few pages were probably written by the author himself. The journal does not contain entries for each day of the voyage.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Not to be published without permission of Yale University.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. Cage 505, Thomas Manby Papers . Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The journal is divided into two parts. It is arranged in chronological order. The first part covers the voyage from Deptford, England around the Cape of Good Hope to Australia, New Zealand, the Sandwich Islands, and the coast of America, February 10, 1791 to April 19, 1792. The second part covers the explorations along the coast in search of a Northwest Passage, the Straits of Juan de Fuca, Nootka Sound, the Columbia River, San Francisco and Monterey, winter in the Sandwich Islands and then the return to the Northwest coast and Nootka Sound. The journal ends on June 30, 1793.

Location of Originals

The journal is a photocopy of the original at Yale University.

Acquisition Information

The journal of Thomas Manby was purchased by the Washington State University Libraries (MS81-07).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1
78 items.
December 20, 1790 to December 31, 1791
2
82 items.
January 1, 1791 to April 30, 1792
3
77 items.
May 1792 to December 1792
4
101 items.
January 1793 to June 30, 1793

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

  • Manby, Thomas, 1769-1834 --Archives (creator)
  • Vancouver, George, 1757-1798

Geographical Names

  • Northwest, Pacific--Discovery and exploration