America; although the expedition was of piratical and buccaneering tendencies, in which line they made quite a success, capturing several valuable Spanish vessels and burning and sacking the towns of Acapulco, Payta, etc. Cavendish then sailed across the Pacific to the Ladrone Islands, through the Indian Archipelago and Strait of Java, around the Cape of Good Hope, reaching England September 9th, 1588, being the third, to circumnavigate the globe; was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, and started on another voyage in 1591, which he failed to carry out on account of sickness, mutinous crews, and finally his death, on the homeward passage.

DAMPIER, WILLIAM.-Born in England in 1652; date of death uncertain. Sailor, soldier, author, pilot and buccaneer. Crossed the Isthmus of Darien in 1679, with a party of pirates, capturing several towns, pillaging and laying them in ruins; captured several Spanish vessels also, with which they sailed along the South American coast, robbing and destroying many seaport towns. In 1684 he accompanied Captain John Cook on a piratical expedition, along the coast of Chili, Peru and Mexico; afterwards crossed the Pacific Ocean, cruising among the islands of the Indian Archipelago, arriving in England in 1691; published a book, his "Voyage Around the World." In 1699, sailed from England in command of sloop of war, on a voyage of discovery in the South Seas, exploring the western coast of Australia, the coast of New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland and the Molluccas. On returning, was wrecked off the island of Ascension, reaching England in 1701. Followed the sea up to 1711. He published also "A Treatise on

Winds and Tides," and a vindication of his voyage to the South Sea, in the ship St. George, in 1707.

DANA, JAMES DWIGHT.-Born in Utica, N. Y., February 12th, 1813. An American mineralogist and geologist, and author, of great ability. In December, 1836, was appointed mineralogist and geologist to the American Exploring Expedition to the Southern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, under Commodore Wilkes, sailing in 1838, and returning in 1842. His researches into the island formations of the South Sea, the shells, the coral, the volcanic formations, etc., show erudition and patient research, with practical observing powers seldom surpassed. His works and contributions to science have been valuable and voluminous, being accepted authority in all parts of the civilized world.

DARWIN, CHARLES ROBERT.-Born in Shrewsbury, England, February 12th, 1809; sailed with Captain Fitzroy, in the Beagle, in his voyage around the world, as naturalist, in 1831, returning in 1836. During this voyage, Darwin examined the greater part of the South American coast; many of the Pacific islands; New Zealand and Australia being visited and examined, as well as Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean. An account of the voyage was published in 1839, Darwin contributing materially to the scientific value of the work. His works on coral reefs, volcanic islands, geology, zoology, with many other contributions to the cause of science, were followed by his "Descent of Man," and "Selection in Relation to Sex," which have probably given him his greatest celebrity, or notoriety,

DRAKE, SIR FRANCIS.-Born in England, in 1545; (by some authorities, in 1539;) and died at sea, near Puerto Bello, December 27th, 1595. His first expedition of any moment, was with Sir John Hawkins, in naval engagements, along the Atlantic seaboard, and in the Gulf of Mexico, with the Spaniards. While in Central America, like the greater and better man, Balboa, he saw the waters of the majestic Pacific, from one of the mountain peaks of the isthmus, resolving to make the mighty sea the scene of his future exploits. Receiving a roving commission from Elizabeth, in 1577, he sailed through the Magellan Straits, pillaging a portion of the coasts of Chile and Peru; sailing for North America, arriving at California, at Drake's Bay (now known to be a point, somewhat different from the Bay of San Francisco), where he took possession of California, in the name of Queen Elizabeth, in 1577. Having made some valuable captures from the Spaniards, and fearing to return as he came, he attempted the northeast passage to the Atlantic, but was driven back by the cold weather and impassable fields of ice. Sailing south, by Japan, the Phillippines, and through the Mollucca Islands, and across the Indian Ocean, he rounded the African cape, reaching England on the 3d of November, 1580-the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. His success met with speedy recognition by the Queen; leading, finally, after many naval adventures on the Atlantic, to his appointment as Vice-Admiral, under Lord Howard. It has been supposed, that Drake was the discoverer of California, as well as the Bay of San Francisco. Where he landed, was Point Reyes-latitude, 37 deg. 59 min. 5 sec. north. Cabrillo is also credited with the discovery, about 1542; he locating and naming

Cape Mendosa (now Mendocino). Cortez, in 1536, discovered the peninsula and Gulf of California.

CORTEZ (or CORTES), HERNAN (or HERNANDO).— Born in Medellin, Estramadura, in 1485, and died near Seville, December 2d, 1554. His first voyage of any note, was to San Domingo, and from there, in 1511, with Velasquez, to Cuba. He was appointed by the Governor to command an expedition to Mexico, to conquer and settle that country, which Grijalva, its Spanish discoverer, had failed to do. Cortez sailed from St. Iago in 1518, and landed on the coast in 1519. Founding the town of Vera Cruz, he burned his ships, and marched for the interior; after many hardships and reverses, he completely subdued and conquered Mexico, in the decisive battles, with the natives, of 1520-21. History and biography are so replete with this conquest, as well as of the minutest details of the life of the great Spanish adventurer, that but a short notice seems all that is necessary here. His discoveries on the Pacific, the Gulf of California, and its survey, the location of the Peninsula of California, together with several expeditions sailing under his patronage, entitle him to a place among the early navigators of the South Sea. His varying fortunes left. him to die, as above, in solitude and despair.

FERNANDEZ, JUAN.—Navigator, pilot, and discoverer in the Pacific. In 1563, he first sighted the island now bearing his name (celebrated in the annals of "Crusoe"), and Mas-a-fuera, afterwards granted to him by the Spanish government. In 1574, he discovered the islands of San Felix and San Ambrose, making many voyages and discoveries in the South Sea,

particularly the flow of the currents along the coast of South America. He is credited, sometimes, with being one of the early discoverers of New Zealand and Australia.

FITZROY, ROBERT.-Born in England, July 5th, 1805; died there, April 30th, 1865. Entered the navy in 1819, serving in the Mediterranean, and at South American stations; in 1831, was placed in command of the Beagle, making a voyage around the world, being accompanied by the celebrated Darwin, as naturalist and geologist of the expedition; in 1843, was appointed governor and commander of the colony of New Zealand, where he served for three years. He was the author of several works, contributing largely to meteorology, and establishing a system of storm warnings in 1862.

FRANKLIN, SIR JOHN.-Born in Lincolnshire, England, April 16th, 1786, dying in the Arctic regions, on June 11th, 1847 (as per records discovered by McClintock, in his expedition to the Arctic, in 1859). Franklin served in the English navy, as a midshipman, in 1801, and in 1802 accompanied Captain Flinders in a voyage to the South Sea, to survey the coasts of Australia, occupying two years for its accomplishment. On the return, they were wrecked off the coast of Australia, barely escaping with their lives, fifty days being spent on a barren, sandy islet, before relief arrived. On his return to England, served with Nelson at Trafalgar, as signal midshipman to the fleet, in 1805, and afterwards on the American coast in 1812-15. His first Arctic expedition was in 1818, in command of the Trent with Captain Buchan, of the Dorothea.