Charles W. Chipp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles W. Chipp
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| Birth name | Charles Winans Chipp |
| Born | August 23, 1848 Kingston, New York, U.S. |
| Died | September 12, 1881 (aged 33) Laptev Sea, off Yakutsk, Siberia |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Service years | 1868–1881 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Expeditions |
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| Awards | Gold Jeannette Medal (1890) |
Charles Winans Chipp (born August 23, 1848 – died September 12, 1881) was a brave officer in the United States Navy and an explorer. He is remembered for his adventures in the Arctic.
Charles Chipp was born in Kingston, New York. He studied to become a naval officer at the United States Naval Academy. This famous school is located in Newport, Rhode Island and Annapolis, Maryland.
After finishing his studies in 1868, Chipp served on a large steamship called the USS Franklin. This ship was the main vessel of the European Squadron, a group of U.S. Navy ships in Europe.
In 1871, he took part in a U.S. Navy trip to Korea. Two years later, in 1873, he served on the USS Juniata. This ship was sent to the coast of Greenland to look for another Arctic ship, the USS Polaris. On the Juniata, Chipp worked with Lieutenant George W. De Long. De Long would later become Chipp's commanding officer.
After serving on several other ships, Chipp was sent to San Francisco. There, he became the executive officer of the USS Jeannette. An executive officer is like a second-in-command. De Long was the captain of the Jeannette. The Jeannette was getting ready for a very important mission. Its goal was to try and sail to the North Pole by going through the Bering Strait.
The Jeannette Expedition
On July 8, 1879, the Jeannette sailed out of Golden Gate in San Francisco. This was the start of its journey of exploration. Captain De Long wrote about Chipp at that time. He said Chipp was "calm and earnest." He also noted that Chipp was "reliable and true in every respect."
The Jeannette reached St. Lawrence Bay in Siberia on August 27, 1879. Then, it headed north into the Chukchi Sea. The ship soon got stuck in the thick pack ice near Wrangel Island. In June 1881, the ice crushed the ship, and it sank.
The crew of the Jeannette had to walk across the rough ice to reach open water. From there, they set out in three small boats toward the Siberian mainland. Captain De Long, Lieutenant Chipp, and the chief engineer, George W. Melville, each commanded one of the boats.
On September 12, 1881, a big storm hit, and the three boats got separated. Lieutenant Chipp's boat, with Chipp and seven other men, was never seen again. No trace of it was ever found. Because of this, September 12, 1881, is believed to be the date of Chipp's death.
Chipp's Legacy
The Chipp River in northern Alaska is named after him. Also, Chipp Peak on Kupreanof Island honors his memory.
