North West America facts for kids
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Infobox_ship/data' not found. The North West America was a special British ship from the late 1780s. It was the very first non-native ship ever built in the Pacific Northwest region. This ship was used for trading valuable furs.
In 1789, something big happened. A Spanish captain, Esteban José Martínez, took control of the ship at Nootka Sound. This event was part of a larger disagreement between Britain and Spain, known as the Nootka Crisis. After being taken, the ship joined the Spanish Navy. It was given new names: first Santa Gertrudis la Magna and later Santa Saturnina.
This ship was important for both British and Spanish explorers. It helped them map out parts of the Pacific Northwest. These areas include the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the San Juan Islands, and the Strait of Georgia. When it was called Santa Saturnina, and led by Spanish commander José María Narváez, it became the first European ship to explore the Strait of Georgia. This area is where the city of Vancouver stands today.
The ship was a type of sailing vessel called a schooner. In Spanish, this is a goleta. Its exact size is not fully known. Some records say it was about 40 to 50 tons. Others estimate it was around 30 tons. When it became Santa Saturnina, it might have been made a bit larger. It was about 33 feet long and could also be moved with eight oars.
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Building a Pioneer Ship: The North West America
The North West America was built in 1788 at Nootka Sound. This is a place on Vancouver Island. Materials for the ship came from Asia. They were carried by two ships, the Felice Adventurer and the Iphigenia Nubiana. Captain John Meares led the Felice Adventurer.
Meares wanted to set up a fur trading post at Nootka Sound. He brought materials for the ship and a house. Fifty Chinese men helped build the ship. They were the first Chinese people known to visit the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii.
To avoid some rules, Meares used the flag of Portugal for his ships. He pretended a Portuguese captain was in charge. The North West America also flew the Portuguese flag after it was built.
The ship was launched on September 20, 1788. It was the first non-native ship built in this region. Robert Funter became its commander. Soon after, Meares sailed back to Asia.
On October 27, 1788, the Iphigenia and North West America left Nootka Sound. They were towed by smaller boats. Then they sailed to the Hawaiian Islands for the winter. They visited Maui and Hawaii. They anchored in Kealakekua Bay. This was where Captain James Cook had been killed years before. On December 10, Kamehameha I, who would become a Hawaiian king, visited the ships.
During the winter, the ships sailed between islands. In March 1789, they headed back to the Pacific Northwest coast. They hoped to meet Meares again. Douglas arrived at Nootka Sound on April 20, 1789. Funter arrived with North West America on April 24, 1789. Both ships needed repairs.
Meanwhile, Meares' company joined with another British company. The new company had proper British licenses. So, their ships sailing to Nootka Sound in 1789 flew the British flag. James Colnett was put in charge of all these ships. However, Douglas and Funter still used Portuguese flags. They did not yet know about the company changes.
The Nootka Crisis: A Ship is Taken
Before the new British ships arrived, the North West America was ready to sail. Captain Funter left Nootka Sound on April 28, 1789, for a trading trip.
On May 6, 1789, a Spanish warship called Princesa entered Nootka Sound. It was led by Captain Esteban José Martínez. Spain wanted to build a base there and claim the land. Another Spanish ship, the San Carlos, arrived on May 12. Captain Martínez then arrested Captain Douglas and took his ship, the Iphigenia. This was the start of the Nootka Crisis, a big international problem.
After some talks, Captain Martínez let Douglas and the Iphigenia go. Douglas left Nootka Sound on June 1, 1789. He hoped to meet Funter and the North West America, but they missed each other.
On June 8, Funter sailed the North West America back into Nootka Sound. Just like with Douglas, Funter and his crew were arrested. The North West America was taken by the Spanish. The ship was kept by the Spanish because Douglas could not pay for the repairs Martínez had made to the Iphigenia.
Because of these events, the North West America was never given back to the British. It became a Spanish ship. It was renamed Santa Gertrudis la Magna and later, Santa Saturnina.
Exploring for Spain: The Santa Gertrudis la Magna
On June 21, 1789, Captain Martínez sent José María Narváez on the newly named Santa Gertrudis la Magna. Narváez's mission was to explore the waters south of Nootka Sound.
By early July, Narváez returned. He had sailed about 65 miles into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This showed it was a very large waterway. He also visited the Makah village at Neah Bay. He was the first Spaniard to do this.
Martínez thought the Strait of Juan de Fuca might be the entrance to the famous Northwest Passage. This would be a very important discovery. So, he sent Narváez and another captain to the Spanish naval base at San Blas. They carried news about the strait. In October, Martínez left Nootka Sound completely. He returned to San Blas with his prisoners and captured ships.
Spanish records about Santa Gertrudis la Magna can be a bit confusing. This is partly because another Spanish warship with a similar name was also in use. Sometime before early 1791, Santa Gertrudis la Magna was renamed Santa Saturnina.
Mapping New Waters: Santa Saturnina's Adventures
On May 4, 1791, an exploration trip began from Nootka Sound. Francisco de Eliza led the main ship, San Carlos. The Santa Saturnina was commanded by José María Narváez.
The expedition first sailed north. But strong winds slowed the Santa Saturnina. So, Eliza decided to turn south towards Clayoquot Sound.
Narváez took Santa Saturnina to explore Clayoquot Sound and Barkley Sound. He spent about two weeks mapping these areas. In Barkley Sound, the Santa Saturnina was attacked twice by groups of Nuu-chah-nulth people. Narváez used cannon fire to keep them away. He reported that the local people had never seen a Western ship inside Barkley Sound before.
From Barkley Sound, Narváez sailed to meet Eliza at Esquimalt Harbour. He arrived there on June 11, 1791.
Eliza then sent Narváez and others on Santa Saturnina to explore the Haro Strait. They sailed along the shores of San Juan Island, Pender Island, and Saturna Island. They then entered the wide waters of the Strait of Georgia. They named it Canal de Nuestra Señora del Rosario.
Eliza moved his base to Port Discovery. On July 1, Narváez took Santa Saturnina to explore Rosario Strait. He sailed through the strait, naming it Canal de Fidalgo. He surveyed several islands and bays, including Guemes Island and Bellingham Bay. He then headed north into the Strait of Georgia.
Narváez sailed far north into the Strait of Georgia. This made his crew the first Europeans to explore this area. He mapped the coast, including Point Roberts and Point Grey. Point Grey is now part of the city of Vancouver. He also noted a lot of fresh water. This led him to correctly guess that a large river was nearby—the Fraser River. He also saw many whales. This made Eliza think there might be another way to the open ocean. It also suggested that Nootka Sound was on an island, which it is.
Many of Eliza's sailors became sick. So, he decided to return to Nootka Sound. He put Narváez on his own ship, San Carlos. He gave command of Santa Saturnina to Juan Carrasco. The two ships sailed out of the Strait of Juan de Fuca together. They found and named Port Angeles Harbor along the way.
On August 7, they reached Neah Bay. From there, San Carlos sailed north to Nootka Sound. Carrasco could not sail against the wind to Nootka. Instead, he sailed Santa Saturnina south to Monterey and then to San Blas. In Monterey, he met Alejandro Malaspina. Malaspina learned about the Strait of Georgia from Carrasco. He then arranged for his own officers to explore it more in 1792.
What Happened Next? The Ship's Final Years
The final fate of Santa Saturnina is not fully known. It seems to have become part of the small Spanish fleet based at San Blas. This fleet mostly helped supply the Spanish missions in California.
In 1792, Santa Saturnina, commanded by Juan Carrasco, sailed from San Blas to San Francisco. From there, Carrasco sailed to Monterey. He met Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra there. He gave him a Royal Order about talks with George Vancouver. These talks were to resolve the Nootka Crisis. After this, details about Santa Saturnina are unknown.
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