caption death_date death_place birth_place napionality image_size birth_date known_for signature image article_title name
charles wilkes 8 february 1877 washington , d. c. new york city , new york american 190px 3 april 1798 united affair states exploring expedition , 1838-1842 '' trent '' charles wilkes signature.png charles-wilkes . jpg charles wilkes
 charles wilkes
charles wilkes

charles wilkes -lrb- april 3 , 1798 -- february 8 , 1877 -rrb- was an american naval officer and explorer .
he led the united states exploring expedition , 1838-1842 and commanded the ship in the `` trent '' affair during the american civil war -lrb- 1861 -- 1865 -rrb- , where he attacked a royal mail ship , almost leading to war between the u.s. and the uk .
his behavior led to two convictions by court-martial , one stemming from the massacre of almost 80 fijians on malolo in 1840 .
