Cultural Object

H.M.S. Fly (1831 - 1903)

Royal Navy

From
1831
To
1903
Functions
Maritime exploration and Ship
Alternative Names
  • Fly, H.M.S.

Summary

H.M.S. Fly was a Royal Navy sloop built at the Pembroke Dockyard and launched in 1831. Until 1840 she was in American and West Indian waters. In December 1841 she was commissioned, under the command of Francis Blackwood, to undertake surveys in the Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef, accompanied by the cutter H.M.S. Bramble. On board were geologist Joseph Jukes and naturalist John MacGillivray (who was in the employ of the Duke of Derby). After exploring the waters around Australia's north-east Australia for the next five years, Fly arrived back in the United Kingdom in 1846. She was further commissioned, under Richard Oliver, for surveys around New Zealand and the Pacific Ocean from 1847 to 1851.Used as coal hulk from 1855, she was broken up in 1903. Natural history collections made by Jukes and MacGillivray were lodged in the British Museum (Natural History). Fly is commemorated by the Fly River in New Guinea.

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Details

Chronology

December 1841
Event - Commissioned under command of Francis Blackwood for surveys around the north-east coast of Australia and New Guinea
19 June 1846
Event - Arrived in Spithead, United Kingdom
14 October 1847
Event - Commissioned under command of Richard Oliver for surveys in New Zealand and the Pacific Ocean
4 December 1851
Event - Arrived at Plymouth Sound, United Kingdom
1855
Event - Converted to a coal hulk
1903
Event - Broken up

Related People

Published resources

Books

  • Jukes, J. B., Narrative of the surveying voyage of H.M.S. Fly, commanded by Captain F. P. Blackwood, R.N., in Torres Strait, New Guinea, and other islands of the Eastern Archipelago, during the years 1842 - 1846, 2 vols (London: T. and W. Boone, 1847). Details

Journal Articles

See also

  • Birtles, Terry, 'On the Fly: the Great Barrier Experiences of Joseph Beete Jukes', National Library Magazine, 2011 (September) (2011), 12-5. Details
  • Blackwood, F. P., Directions for the outer passage from Sydney to Torres Strait (London: British Library, 2011), 28 pp. Details
  • Rice, A. L., British oceanographic vessels 1800 - 1950 (London: Ray Society, 1986), 193 pp. Details
  • Wellbank, I., compiler, Complete sailing directions for the various passages to and through Torres Straits: comprising the inner passage of the late Admiral King, and the outer routes by Raine Island: and by the north eastern entrance, by Captain Blackwood (...) (Sydney: Reading & Wellbank, 1864), 47 pp. Details

Helen Cohn

Created: 13 May 2025

EOAS ID: biogs/P007695b.htm

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