Robert Fotherby facts for kids

Robert Fotherby was an English explorer and whaler who lived in the early 1600s. He worked for two big companies. From 1613 to 1615, he explored for the Muscovy Company. After that, he worked for the East India Company until he passed away in 1646.

Robert Fotherby might have come from a family living in Grimsby, England.

Robert Fotherby's Arctic Adventures (1613-1615)

Robert Fotherby went on several important trips to the Arctic. These voyages helped map and understand the icy lands of Spitsbergen (now part of Svalbard).

Exploring Spitsbergen in 1613

In May 1613, Fotherby joined a fleet of seven ships. These ships were sent by the Muscovy Company to explore the area around Spitsbergen. He worked as a master's mate on a ship called the Matthew.

During this trip, Fotherby did something very special. He climbed a glacier in a bay called Josephbukta. This was the first time anyone had ever recorded climbing a glacier in Spitsbergen's history! The glacier was likely Renardbreen.

Mapping the Coast in 1614

In 1614, Fotherby sailed as a master's mate on the ship Thomasine. This ship was one of two sent to explore Spitsbergen's coast. They left England in early May and reached the area by the end of the month.

On June 22, Fotherby entered Magdalenefjorden. He claimed this area for King James I of England. He set up the King's flag on a wooden cross. He named the fjord Maudlin Sound and a nearby bay Trinity Harbor.

Discovering Northern Spitsbergen

In July and August, Fotherby and William Baffin explored the northern coast. Baffin was the pilot of the Thomasine. They used small boats to get around.

They explored and named Raudfjorden Red-cliff Sound. Its modern name is similar to this old name. Fotherby named a cape Point Deceit (now Narreneset). He called the eastern entrance Point Welcome.

They also found a large bay and named it Broad bay (now Breibogen). Its shore was called Red Beach. Along Red Beach, Fotherby saw signs of an earlier trip. These were fires made by Thomas Marmaduke's crew in 1612.

Seeing New Fjords

Fotherby and Baffin also marked two fjords south of Breibogen. They called them Wiches Sound. This name honored a London shipowner, Richard Wyche. These fjords are now known as Liefdefjorden and Woodfjorden.

In early August, Fotherby and Baffin climbed a tall hill. It was along the eastern shore of Woodfjorden. From there, they saw a long, wide bay (Wijdefjorden). They also saw a point to the northeast (Verlegenhuken). Fotherby called the bay Sir Thomas Smith's Inlet.

They met another boat near Gråhuken, which Fotherby called Castlins Point. Here, they found a cross set up by Marmaduke's men in 1612. It had names like Laurence Prestwood carved on it.

Pushing Through the Ice

Fotherby and Baffin traveled around Gråhuken by land and sea. They went into Wijdefjorden. Thick ice forced them to explore the fjord only by walking. They walked along its western shore. From a point of land, they could see the end of Wijdefjorden far to the south.

The ice stopped them from going further. So, they went back to their ship. It was anchored in the southern harbor of Fairhaven.

They tried to sail the ship around the northern coast of Spitsbergen. But the ice was too thick. They could only reach the mouth of Wijdefjorden before turning back. The Thomasine left Spitsbergen in early September. It arrived back in England the next month.

Discovering Jan Mayen in 1615

In 1615, Fotherby led his own ship, a small vessel called the Richard. He was looking for a place called Hold-with-Hope. This place was thought to be part of Greenland.

He did not find Hold-with-Hope. But he did find an island called Jan Mayen. This was the first time an English expedition was known to reach the island. Thinking it was a new discovery, he named it Sir Thomas Smith's Island. He named the large volcano on the island, Beerenberg, Mount Hackluyt.

Working for the East India Company

After his Arctic trips, Robert Fotherby started working for the East India Company. This company traded with countries in Asia.

In October 1615, the company thought Fotherby would be good for exploring. He was later put in charge of making ropes in Deptford in 1618. Three years later, his job and pay were confirmed.

In August 1621, he moved to Blackwall Yard. He worked there as the company's agent. His wages were increased in October 1624. Fotherby was mentioned as a clerk at Blackwall in 1627 and again in 1639. His son, also named Robert, worked there too.

In July 1644, Fotherby was chosen as one of the company's officers. In September of the same year, records showed he had worked as a "clerk and storekeeper" at Blackwall Yard for 26 years. He was last mentioned in the company's records in May 1646. The company learned of his death in October 1646. He was buried on October 16. His son passed away three years later.