Expeditionary· U.S. Exploring Expedition (Wilkes)
US Exploring Expedition (Wilkes)
The first major American scientific and naval expedition to circle the globe, commanded by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes.
A squadron of six vessels carried scientists, surveyors, and naturalists alongside the usual naval complements, including a Marine guard aboard each ship. Over four years the expedition surveyed long stretches of the Antarctic coast, confirming it as a continent, charted dozens of Pacific island groups, explored the American Pacific Northwest, and gathered the natural-history collections that became a foundation of the Smithsonian. Wilkes also negotiated commercial agreements with Samoan and Fijian chiefs to protect American shipping. Where those agreements were defied or American lives taken, the expedition answered with force, and its Marines served as the landing parties in the punitive actions at Malolo in Fiji, Upolu in Samoa, and Drummond's Island in the Gilberts. The expedition's only combat deaths were two Navy officers killed at Malolo. Wilkes was court-martialed on return over his harsh discipline and acquitted on most charges.
Engagements in this conflict (4)
Record no. 312