Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T03:36:29.353Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

James Rennell and British Arctic expeditions, 1818–1829

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

Gwyn Griffiths
Gwyn Griffiths
Affiliation:
James Rennell Centre for Ocean CirculationGamma HouseChilworth Research CentreChilworthSouthampton SOI 7NS
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

During the resurgence of Arctic exploration in the early years of the nineteenth century, James Rennell was the leading British geographer. He had a deep interest in exploration, and was a close friend of many naval and scientific men involved in Arctic research. Rennell used the observations of a number of explorers in his major work on the currents of the Atlantic — the first scientific treatise on ocean currents. These observations led Rennell to form opinions on where northwest passages would and would not be found, in particular, that Prince Regent Inlet would prove to be a cul-de-sac. Rennell was also doubtful of the practicality and usefulness of such passages — his brief, commonsense dismissal being in stark contrast to many statements of his contemporaries. This paper sets out his relationship with the explorers of the time and his role as a scientific interpreter of their data.

Type
Articles
Information
Polar Record , Volume 29 , Issue 170 , July 1993 , pp. 189 - 196
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barrow, J. 1818. A chronological history of voyages into the Arctic regions. London: John Murray.Google Scholar
Cook, A.S. 1978. Major James Renneli and a Bengal atlas (1780 and 1781). In: Annual report of the India Office Library and Records, 1976. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Deacon, M.B. 1971. Scientists and the sea 1650–1900. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Inglefield, E.A. 1853. A summer search for Franklin: with a peep into the polar basin. London: Thomas-Harrison.Google Scholar
Markham, C.R. 1895. MajorRennelland the rise of modern English geography. London: Cassell.Google Scholar
Martin, C. 1988. William Scoresby Jnr (1789–1857) and the open polar sea— myth and reality. Arctic 41 (1): 39–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McClintock, F.L. 1881. The voyage of the Fox in the Arctic seas. Fifth edition. London: John Murray.Google Scholar
Park, M. 1816. Travels in the interior districts of Africa, 1795–7. New edition with geographical illustrations of Africa by Major James Rennell. London: John Murray.Google Scholar
Parry, W.E. 1968. Journal of a voyage for the discovery of a North-west Passage. New York: Greenwood Press (Reprint of 1821 edition).Google Scholar
Pullen, T.C. and Swithinbank, C.. 1991. Transits of the Northwest Passage 1906–90. Polar Record 27 (163): 365–366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rennell, J. no date a. Hand-written statement on the Northwest Passage, Arctic currents, and ice, citing the observations of Cook, Scoresby and others. San Francisco: Sutro Branch of the California State Library, Banks Collection MS PN 1:23.Google Scholar
Rennell, J. no date b. Letter to Sir F. Beaufort, ‘Monday night’. San Marino, CA: Huntington Library, Beaufort Collection MS FB 1547.Google Scholar
Rennell, J. 1778. Chart of the banks and currents at the Lagullas. London: printed privately.Google Scholar
Rennell, J. 1781a. Chart of Abai Harbour on the NW coast of Borneo. London: Hydrographic Department (Chart 945 Series A).Google Scholar
Rennell, J. 1781b. Map of Hindoostan or the Mogul's Empire, and memoir of the map. London: printed privately.Google Scholar
Rennell, J. 1797. Chart of the banks and currents at the Lagullas. Second edition. London: printed privately.Google Scholar
Rennell, J. 1817. Letterto Joseph Banks, 19 October 1817. San Francisco: Sutro Branch of the California State Library, Banks Collection MS PN 1:24 (from a copy held at the Royal Geographical Society).Google Scholar
Rennell, J. 1818. Letterto Sir F. Beaufort, 5 Jan 1818. San Marino, CA: Huntington Library, Beaufort Collection MS FB 1534.Google Scholar
Rennell, J. 1823. Letterto Sir F. Beaufort, 1 Dec 1823. San Marino, CA: Huntington Library, Beaufort Collection MS FB 1541.Google Scholar
Rennell, J. 1824. Letter to James Rodd, 7 May 1824. Oxford: Bodleian Library, Rennell of Rodd bequest.Google Scholar
Rennell, J. 1826. LettertoSir F.Beaufort, 7 June 1826. San Marino, CA: Huntington Library, Beaufort Collection MS FB 1548.Google Scholar
Rennell, J. 1830. The geographical system of Herodotus examined and explained. Second edition. Rodd, J. (editor). London: Rivington.Google Scholar
Rennell, J. 1832. An investigation of the currents of the Atlantic Ocean. Purdy, J. (editor). London: JG & F Rivington, for Lady Rodd.Google Scholar
Rice, A.L. 1975. The oceanography of John Ross's Arctic expedition of 1818; a re-appraisal. Journal of the Society for the Bibliography of Natural History 7 (3): 291–319.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ross, J. 1835. Narrative of a second voyage in search of a Northwest Passage. London: A.W. Webster.Google Scholar
Scoresby, W. 1820. An account of the Arctic regions, with a history and description of the northern whale-fishery. Edinburgh: Constable.Google Scholar
Stamp, T. andStamp, C.. 1975. William Scoresby Arctic scientist. Whitby: Caedmon of Whitby.Google Scholar
Wallace, H.N. 1980. The navy, the company and Richard King. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press.Google Scholar