Philip Carteret

Philip Carteret (22 January 1733 – 21 July 1796) was an English officer in the Royal Navy. He was one of the lieutenants on John Byron's circumnavigation (sailing around) of the world in 1764. After this long voyage, he found a liking to this, and he went around the world again as part of the Royal Navy's exploration in 1766. 

Early life
Carteret joined the Royal Navy in 1747, at the age of 14. He first served on the Salisbury, And he  worked with / sailed with the British admiral, John Byron. Carteret worked with John from 1751, to 1755. after finishing work on the Salisbury, he set off on a world wide trip with John Bryon, and this trip lasted for 2 years. From 1764, to 1766.

 Discoveries 
As soon as he had returned from his first trip, Carteret was put in charge of HMS Swallow to go on a second circumnavigation with Samuel Wallis who sailed in the HMS Dolphin. The two ships were separated sailing around Cape Horn, so Carteret continued on alone. He discovered Pitcairn Island on 2 July 1767. He did not land on the island. He also discovered the Carteret Islands, Mururoa, and the Duke of Gloucester Islands. He got back to England in 1769. The Swallow was in bad condition and the success of the long trip shows Carteret's courage and skill.

Carteret's health was ruined by his voyage of exploration. He was put on half pay, and in 1773, he wrote the story of the voyage as part of a book about the voyages of Byron, Wallis, Carteret and Cook. The book's editor John Hawkesworth, made changes to the story, so Carteret wrote his own book which was not printed until 1965. In 1779 he took the ship HMS Endymion to the West Indies. This was his last trip. He was promoted to Vice-Admiral and he retired to Southhampton in 1794. His personal papers are kept in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England.

References

Category:1733 births
Category:1796 deaths
Category:British admirals
Category:English explorers