Voyages and Discoveries in the South Seas 1792-1832

by Edmund Fanning

In the years after the American Revolution, trade with European nations became increasingly difficult, prompting American shipmasters and owners to broaden their search for new markets. The islands of the Pacific, the west coast of North and South America, and the open ports of China and the East Indies were soon visited by small sailing vesssels hailing from Boston, Salem, New York, and other Atlantic ports. Unfortunately, few captains kept a record of these voyages. Captain Edmund Fanning of Stonington, Connecticut, was an exception. For 40 years he documented sea journeys to the Pacific and around the world. Today, his narratives are reproduced in this book, complete and unabridged, and are among the most prized in the annals of sea lore. Over 30 illustrations enhance the text.

335 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1989

Reviews

[Bruce Hesselbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edmund Fanning was one of the first and most successful captains of trading ships between New York and China from 1792 to 1832. He is remembered today as the discoverer of Fanning's Island, one of the remote Line Islands in the central Pacific.
His book is a rarity because few of the early sea captains from the United States were of a literary bent. It is fascinating to read his accounts of early contacts with the Polynesians in the Marquesas and elsewhere, as well as his run-ins with the British navy.
One part of the book that is problematic for modern readers is his account of the fur seal trade. Ships from the United States would go to islands off the south coast of Chile, or islands in the far South Atlantic, and kill thousands of fur seals. They would then sail to China where the pelts would be traded for porcelain, spices, silk, and other valuables.
For its picturesque accounts of a world that is far different from today, this book is highly entertaining. It is a fitting tribute to the courage of a former cabin boy who rose to become one of the most successful captains of his day.