Cultural Object

H.M.S. Herald (1822 - 1862)

Royal Navy

From
1822
To
1862
Functions
Maritime exploration and Ship
Alternative Names
  • Herald, H.M.S.

Summary

H.M.S. Herald was an Atholl class ship built in Cochin at the yard of the East India Company. After being used in general service for 20 years, she was converted for survey duty in 1845. Between then and 1851 she was the Americas, including being involved in the search for John Franklin's ships, H.M.S. Erebus and H.M.S. Terror which had disappeared in Arctic waters. In 1852, under command of Henry Mangles, Herald embarked for an extensive survey voyage in the southwest Pacific Ocean. Naturalists on board included John MacGillivray. Survey work carried out included deep-sea soundings, magnetic observations and establishing accurate meridian readings. Having arrived in Sydney in June 1853, the rest of the year was spent surveying Lord Howe Island, Ball's Pyramid and other islands between Sydney and Fiji. The next three years were occupied around Fiji. Herald also assisted in settling the Pitcain Islanders on Norfolk Island. Subsequent surveys included the southern and western coasts of Australia, and the Coral Sea.Heralddeparted Sydney in August 1860, arriving in the United Kingdom in May the following year. She was converted to a chapel ship, and in April 1862 was sold for breaking.

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Details

Chronology

10 June 1852
Event - Departed from Plymouth, United Kingdom
18 February 1853
Event - Arrived in Port Jackson, New South Wales
April 1855
Event - John MacGillivray left the ship
26 February 1857
Event - Arrived back in Sydney
November 1857
Event - Survey of Port Jackson completed
29 June 1858
Event - Returned to Sydney after surveying the southern and western coasts of Australia
May 1860
Event - Completed three surveys of the Coral Sea
17 August 1860
Event - Departed Sydney to return to the United Kingdom
16 May 1861
Event - Arrived at Spithead, United Kingdom

Related People

Published resources

Books

  • David, Andrew, The Voyage of HMS Herald to Australia and the South-west Pacific 1852-1861 under the command of Captain Henry Mangles Denham (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press at Miegunyah Press, 1995), 549 pp. Details

See also

  • Rice, A. L., British oceanographic vessels 1800 - 1950 (London: Ray Society, 1986), 193 pp. Details

Helen Cohn

Created: 13 May 2025

EOAS ID: biogs/P007696b.htm

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