Interestingly enough, the port we are now leaving is named after William Dampier, who died during this very month in 1715. He was famous for being the first Englishman to land on New Holland (Australia, as it’s known these days) in the natural harbor that now bears his name; although the Dutch had already achieved this feet almost a century prior…not to mention the Aboriginal people some 50,000 years prior. He was a scientist (most explorers took up the hobby of natural history in those days) and a cartographer, also a popular trade amongst explorers. He drafted the first partial maps of Western Australia and New Guinea in 1699, during the final leg of an expedition that left England a day after my birthday on January 14th. He is probably best known for being the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe…3 times. Although the first English colony was established on the other side of the continent in Sydney Cove almost a 80 years after his death, modern day Australia is likely a direct result of his findings and insights. His eyes, over 300 years ago, once studied the very red moonscape that now lies in our wake…isn’t history fascinating. 
Monday, March 28, 2011
William Dampier
The empty water bottle that was resting horizontally on a shelf above my bunk, after a few attempts, has rolled off; it appears it wasn’t so empty after all. The ship is in motion once again signaling our departure from the port of Dampier; the Finnmarken is heading back out to Barrow Island. Looks like I’ll be going back to work, if you want to call it that, sooner than expected.
Interestingly enough, the port we are now leaving is named after William Dampier, who died during this very month in 1715. He was famous for being the first Englishman to land on New Holland (Australia, as it’s known these days) in the natural harbor that now bears his name; although the Dutch had already achieved this feet almost a century prior…not to mention the Aboriginal people some 50,000 years prior. He was a scientist (most explorers took up the hobby of natural history in those days) and a cartographer, also a popular trade amongst explorers. He drafted the first partial maps of Western Australia and New Guinea in 1699, during the final leg of an expedition that left England a day after my birthday on January 14th. He is probably best known for being the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe…3 times. Although the first English colony was established on the other side of the continent in Sydney Cove almost a 80 years after his death, modern day Australia is likely a direct result of his findings and insights. His eyes, over 300 years ago, once studied the very red moonscape that now lies in our wake…isn’t history fascinating.
Interestingly enough, the port we are now leaving is named after William Dampier, who died during this very month in 1715. He was famous for being the first Englishman to land on New Holland (Australia, as it’s known these days) in the natural harbor that now bears his name; although the Dutch had already achieved this feet almost a century prior…not to mention the Aboriginal people some 50,000 years prior. He was a scientist (most explorers took up the hobby of natural history in those days) and a cartographer, also a popular trade amongst explorers. He drafted the first partial maps of Western Australia and New Guinea in 1699, during the final leg of an expedition that left England a day after my birthday on January 14th. He is probably best known for being the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe…3 times. Although the first English colony was established on the other side of the continent in Sydney Cove almost a 80 years after his death, modern day Australia is likely a direct result of his findings and insights. His eyes, over 300 years ago, once studied the very red moonscape that now lies in our wake…isn’t history fascinating. 
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Yes, history is fascinating, especially from your viewpoint. Thank you for the interesting read. I can so visualize you teaching, Mike. Take care.
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