Thomas Humphrey Metcalfe facts for kids

Thomas Humphrey Metcalfe (sometimes spelled Metcalf) was an American fur trader. He was born around 1771 and tragically died on March 16, 1790. Thomas worked alongside his father, Simon Metcalfe, in the exciting but dangerous world of maritime fur trading.

During one of their voyages, a big storm separated Thomas from his father. Thomas was sailing a small ship called a schooner with only four crew members. He traveled all the way from near China to Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island. There, he was arrested by the Spanish. After being set free, he sailed to Hawaii, hoping to find his father. Sadly, he was attacked and killed by Native Hawaiians. This happened because of bad things his father had done just a few days before.

A Trading Adventure Begins

In the late 1780s, Thomas's father, Simon Metcalfe, owned a large ship called the Eleanora. In February 1787, Simon left New York City with his two teenage sons, Thomas and Robert. Their plan was to sail to China for trade.

They first planned to carry tea from China back to New York City. But while in China, the Metcalfes heard about a chance to make a lot of money. They learned they could trade sea otter furs in China. So, Simon Metcalfe decided to change his plans. He would first sail to the Pacific Northwest Coast to get these valuable furs. Then, he would return to China to buy tea.

An English captain suggested they get a second, smaller ship. This smaller ship would be easier to use in narrow bays and would help with trading.

The Tiny Fair American

Because of this advice, Simon Metcalfe bought a small, 26-ton schooner in China. This little ship was named the Fair American. Thomas Metcalfe, who was still very young, was put in charge of it. The Fair American was about 33 feet (10 meters) long and 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide. It had a crew of four sailors, plus Thomas as captain. Even though it was small and didn't have a full deck, it had a special copper bottom. Years later, a British officer was amazed that such a tiny ship had sailed across such a huge and wild ocean.

Lost at Sea: Thomas's Journey

The Eleanora (Simon's ship) and the Fair American (Thomas's ship) left China in May 1789. They planned to sail together to Nootka Sound in what is now British Columbia, Canada. But a big storm in the South China Sea separated them. Young Thomas Metcalfe was left to find his own way across the vast ocean in his tiny ship.

His only tool for finding his way was a compass, but it broke during the journey. His only guide was a copy of a map made by James Cook. Cook's map showed the general shape of the North Pacific coast but didn't have many details.

A Long and Difficult Voyage

Thomas sailed north, past the Japanese archipelago, the Kuriles, and the Aleutian Islands. After 42 days at sea, he stopped at a Russian fur-trade post on Unalaska Island. The Russian commander there, Potak Zaikov, gave him flour and dried fish. Thomas then continued down the Pacific Northwest Coast. He managed to trade for some furs with people from Tlingit and Haida villages. Finally, he arrived at Nootka Sound.

When Thomas arrived, his ship was in bad shape. The Spanish commander at Nootka Sound, Esteban José Martínez, saw that the Fair American had a broken mast and torn sails. It had almost no food left, only some water and about 65 otter skins. Thomas also didn't have any official papers, just his diary, and his compass was broken.

Martínez was very impressed by Thomas. He wrote that Thomas was "but a boy" who had sailed a very long way under his father's orders. He noted that Thomas and his crew faced great dangers from bad weather and lack of food. They had sailed over 7,700 miles (12,400 km) across the open sea.

Captured at Nootka Sound

In 1789, both Simon Metcalfe and his son Thomas were caught up in the Nootka Crisis. This was a time when Spain decided to claim control over the Pacific Northwest Coast. In early 1789, Spanish ships arrived and built a fort called Fort San Miguel.

The Spanish officer, Esteban José Martínez, was in charge. He had orders to stop all foreign ships. He seized several British trading ships. However, he did not stop the American ships Columbia Rediviva and Lady Washington.

Thomas's Arrest

On October 20, 1789, the Fair American, captained by Thomas Metcalfe, reached Nootka Sound. Esteban José Martínez seized the small ship and arrested its crew. A few days later, Simon Metcalfe's ship, the Eleanora, also approached Nootka Sound. It was almost captured, but Simon managed to escape.

Martínez decided to take the Fair American and its crew to the Spanish naval base in San Blas, Mexico. They arrived there on December 6, 1789. Even though Martínez admired Thomas's sailing skills and felt sorry for the crew, he still arrested them. To help the Fair American make the long trip to San Blas, Martínez provided new compasses, ropes, and a new main mast. During the trip, Thomas and his crew were prisoners. The ship was captained by John Kendrick Jr., who had joined the Spanish Navy.

Release from Prison

On the way to San Blas, a storm forced the Fair American to stop in Monterey, California. Thomas Metcalfe and his crew spent about ten days in prison there. Then they continued south to San Blas, where they were again imprisoned.

The Spanish viceroy, Juan Vicente de Güemes, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo, was worried about problems with other countries because of the seized ships. He decided to focus only on Britain. So, he ordered Thomas Metcalfe, his men, and his ship to be released right away. The viceroy later thought it might be better to escort the Fair American back to Nootka Sound before releasing it. But by the time this new order reached San Blas, Thomas Metcalfe was already sailing the Fair American toward Hawaii.

Tragedy in Hawaii

The Metcalfes had planned to spend the winter in the Hawaiian Islands. These islands were independent and just starting to be visited by outsiders. After Simon Metcalfe escaped capture at Nootka Sound, he traded for furs and then headed for Hawaii. After being released from San Blas, Thomas Metcalfe sailed the Fair American to Hawaii, hoping to meet his father there.

Simon Metcalfe's ship, the Eleanora, arrived in Hawaii first, in the winter of 1789–90. In Kohala on the island of Hawaiʻi, Simon Metcalfe met a local chief named Kameʻeiamoku. They began trading. However, Simon had the chief punished for some reason. Chief Kameʻeiamoku then promised to get revenge on the next ship that came his way.

The Olowalu Attack

On the coast of Maui, a small boat and a sailor from the Eleanora went missing. It was discovered that the boat had been stolen. Simon Metcalfe's response to this became known as the Olowalu Massacre. He sailed to the village of the suspected thieves, Olowalu. He pretended to be friendly and invited the villagers to his ship for trade. But secretly, he had his cannons loaded with cannonballs and smaller metal pieces. When many canoes gathered around his ship, Simon ordered his cannons to fire all at once. This blasted the canoes to pieces. About 100 to 300 Native Hawaiians were killed, and many more were hurt.

Thomas's Death and the Fair American's Capture

Meanwhile, Thomas Metcalfe and the Fair American arrived at Kawaihae Bay, on the Island of Hawaiʻi. This was the same place where Chief Kameʻeiamoku had just vowed revenge on the next ship.

That next ship was the Fair American, captained by Thomas Metcalfe. He was the son of the very person who had caused so much anger, though no one knew this at the time. The schooner had only four sailors and its young, less experienced captain. On March 16, 1790, Chief Kameʻeiamoku's men easily captured the schooner. Thomas Metcalfe and his entire crew were killed. The only survivor was Isaac Davis, who was badly hurt but was spared for some reason. Kameʻeiamoku took the ship, its guns, ammunition, and other valuable items, as well as Isaac Davis. At that time, no one knew that the captain of the Fair American was related to Simon Metcalfe, whose Eleanora was anchored about 30 miles (48 km) away. The Fair American and Isaac Davis were later given to King Kamehameha I.

What Happened Next

After the Olowalu attack, Simon Metcalfe sailed back to the island of Hawaiʻi. He arrived a day after the Fair American was captured and Thomas Metcalfe was killed. At Kealakekua Bay, Simon Metcalfe began what seemed like friendly trading for supplies. But when King Kamehameha learned about the capture of the Fair American, he stopped all contact between his people and the Eleanora.

Simon Metcalfe sent his boatswain (a ship's officer) John Young ashore to find out what was happening. Young was captured. Metcalfe was confused by the sudden silence. He waited two days for Young to return, firing guns to guide Young back. Finally, sensing danger or becoming frustrated, Metcalfe left and sailed for China. He never knew that his son had been killed not far away. He never learned about the attack on the Fair American or what happened to his son.

A Turning Point for Hawaii

These events were a big turning point in Hawaiian history. John Young and Isaac Davis became very important in King Kamehameha's plans to unite the Hawaiian Islands. Young and Davis became trusted translators and military advisors for Kamehameha. Their skills with guns, along with the cannon from the Fair American, helped Kamehameha win many battles. This included the Battle of Kepaniwai later in 1790, where the forces of Maui were defeated. Young and Davis married into the royal family, had families, and received valuable lands.

Simon Metcalfe continued to trade around the Pacific and Indian Oceans for another four years. In 1792, he bought a small French ship to help the Eleanora. He named this ship Ino and put his younger son Robert in command. When the Eleanora sank in the Indian Ocean in the winter of 1792–93, Metcalfe took command of the Ino.

In August 1794, Simon Metcalfe visited Houston Stewart Channel in Haida Gwaii. He anchored in Coyah's Sound. Friendly trading began with the local Haida people of Chief Koyah. Metcalfe allowed many Haida people to come aboard the Ino. The Haida took advantage of their greater numbers and attacked. Simon Metcalfe and almost his entire crew were killed.