John Davis (sealer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Davis
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| Born | 1784 Surrey, England
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Seal hunter |
| Known for | Debated as the first man on Antarctica |
Captain John Davis was born in 1784 in Surrey, England. He was an American sailor and seal hunter from Connecticut, United States. Many people believe he might have been the very first person to step onto Antarctica. This possible landing happened on February 7, 1821. This was just a short time after the continent was first spotted by other explorers in 1820. These explorers included Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, Mikhail Lazarev, Edward Bransfield, and Nathaniel Palmer.
Was John Davis the First on Antarctica?
Some of Davis's crew from the American sealing ship Cecilia might have landed at Hughes Bay. This area is near the top of the Antarctic Peninsula. They were on shore for less than an hour, looking for seals.
The ship's logbook, which is like a ship's diary, has an entry about this day. It says:
Commences with open Cloudy Weather and Light winds a standing for a Large Body of Land in that Direction SE at 10A.M. close in with it our Boat and Sent her on Shore to look for Seal at 11A.M. the Boat returned but find no sign of Seal at noon our Latitude was 64°01' South Stood up a Large Bay, the Land high and covered intirely [sic] with snow the wind coming Round to the North & Eastward with Thick weather Tacked ship and headed off Shore. At 4P.M. fresh Gale and Thick weather with snow ... Ends with Strong Gales at ENE Concluded to make the Best of our way for the Ship I think this Southern Land to be a Continent.
This logbook entry is the earliest record of anyone claiming to have landed on the newly found continent of Antarctica.
However, the first landing that everyone agrees on happened much later. It was 74 years later, on January 24, 1895. A group of men from the Norwegian ship Antarctic went ashore. They collected rocks and other samples at Cape Adare. This group included Norwegians Henrik Johan Bull and Carsten Borchgrevink, and a New Zealander named Alexander von Tunzelmann.
Davis's Legacy
The part of the coast on the Antarctic Peninsula where Davis's men are thought to have landed is now named the Davis Coast. This name helps remember his possible historic visit.
See also
In Spanish: John Davis (explorador del siglo XIX) para niños
- List of Antarctic expeditions
