Frederick Whymper facts for kids
Frederick Whymper (born 20 July 1838 in London – died 26 November 1901) was a British artist and explorer. He was known for his detailed drawings and his adventures in North America, especially in Alaska and British Columbia.
About Frederick Whymper
Frederick Whymper was the oldest son of Josiah Wood Whymper, a famous artist and wood-engraver. His younger brother, Edward Whymper, was a well-known mountain climber. Edward was the first person to reach the top of the Matterhorn mountain in 1865.
When he was young, Frederick was a very skilled artist. He created engravings for books and magazines. His landscape paintings were even shown at the Royal Academy of Arts in London between 1859 and 1861.
Adventures and Discoveries
In 1862, Frederick Whymper traveled to Victoria, British Columbia, which is in Canada. The next year, he explored the Cariboo region. In 1864, he joined people building roads near Bute Inlet on the Pacific Coast. He left this area just before the Chilcotin War began.
Many of his early trips were by steamship. He drew pictures of volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula and glaciers in Alaska. While in the far north, Whymper joined two important groups. He was part of the Vancouver Island Exploring Expedition. He also joined the Western Union Telegraph Expedition in 1865.
During the winter of 1866, he stayed in Nulato, Alaska, with W.H. Dall. Whymper traveled up the Yukon River to Fort Yukon, Alaska. There, he saw the first American flag being raised over the new territory of Alaska. This happened when the United States bought Alaska from Russia.
Later Life and Legacy
In November 1867, Whymper returned to England. He wrote a book about his travels called Travel and Adventure in the Territory of Alaska, which was published in 1868.
In 1869, he went back to the United States. He traveled through New York City to San Francisco. In San Francisco, he worked for a newspaper called Alta California. City records show he worked as an artist and a mining engineer. In 1871, he helped start the San Francisco Art Association.
Frederick Whymper eventually returned to England. Before he passed away, he published two more books: The Heroes of the Arctic and their Adventures and The Sea: Its Stirring Story of Adventure, Peril and Heroism. He died in London on 26 November 1901.
A mountain in British Columbia, Mount Whymper, is named after Frederick. It is located north of Lake Cowichan. Another taller mountain in British Columbia, Mount Whymper, is named after his brother Edward, who was the first to climb it.
