John Ledyard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Ledyard
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| Born | November 1751 |
| Died | 10 January 1789 (aged 37) Cairo, Egypt
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | Dartmouth College |
| Occupation | Explorer |
John Ledyard was an amazing American explorer and adventurer. He was born in November 1751 and passed away on January 10, 1789. John traveled to many far-off places, making him one of the most interesting explorers of his time.
Contents
John Ledyard's Early Life
John Ledyard was born in Groton, Connecticut, in November 1751. When he was three years old, he went to live with his grandfather in Hartford. There, he went to school and began his education.
College Days and Adventure
Ledyard briefly attended Dartmouth College starting in 1772. The college was only three years old at the time. He didn't stay long, leaving in May 1773.
One memorable thing he did was build his own dugout canoe. He paddled it for a week down the Connecticut River to his grandfather's farm. Today, the Ledyard Canoe Club honors him with an annual canoe trip.
After leaving college, John decided to travel the world. He worked as a sailor on a trading ship for a year. He visited places like Gibraltar, the Barbary Coast, and the Caribbean. Later, he was forced to join the British Navy as a marine.
Exploring with Captain Cook
In June 1776, Ledyard joined Captain James Cook's third and final voyage. This was a huge adventure that lasted four years, until October 1780.
Cook's Voyage: A World Tour
During this journey, their two ships visited many islands and lands. They stopped at the Hawaiian Islands, Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, and islands like Tasmania and New Zealand. They also explored parts of North America's northwest coast.
Ledyard might have been the first U.S. citizen to touch the western coast of North America. They sailed along the Aleutian Islands and Alaska into the Bering Sea. The expedition then returned to Hawaii, where Captain Cook was sadly killed.
Writing About His Travels
Still a marine, Ledyard was sent to Canada to fight in the American Revolution. Instead, he left the navy and returned to Dartmouth. There, he began writing his book, Journal of Captain Cook's Last Voyage.
His book was published in 1783. It was the first work in the United States to be protected by copyright. This book was also the first travel story about Hawaii ever published in America.
Ideas for Fur Trade
Ledyard noticed that sea otter furs from the American northwest were very valuable in Macau, China. He thought of a plan to trade these furs for Chinese silk and porcelain. These goods could then be sold in the United States for a good profit.
He tried to start a fur-trading company, but it didn't work out. However, his ideas helped create the path for future trade between America and China.
Overland Journey Around the World
In Paris, Ledyard came up with a very bold plan. He wanted to explore the American continent by traveling overland through Russia. He planned to cross the Bering Strait, go south through Alaska, and then travel across the American West to Virginia.
This idea was supported by important people like Thomas Jefferson, who was the American ambassador in France. Others like the Marquis de Lafayette and botanist Joseph Banks also helped him.
Journey Through Russia
Ledyard left London in December 1786. He traveled most of the way across Russia. He went through cities like St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Irkutsk. He reached Yakutsk after 11 weeks and stopped there for the winter.
However, in February 1788, Ledyard was arrested by order of Empress Catherine the Great. He was sent back to Moscow and then deported to Poland. His amazing journey around the world was cut short.
Expedition to Africa
Back in London, Ledyard met with the African Association. This group was looking for explorers to travel through Africa. Ledyard suggested an expedition from the Red Sea to the Atlantic.
He arrived in Alexandria, Egypt, in August 1788. Sadly, his expedition was slow to begin. In November 1788, John Ledyard accidentally poisoned himself. He died in Cairo, Egypt on January 10, 1789. He was buried in the sand dunes near the Nile River, but the exact spot is unknown today.
Selected Works
- The Last Voyage of Captain Cook: The Collected Writings of John Ledyard, edited by James Zug, National Geographic Adventure Classics, National Geographic Society, 2005.
