Henry Mangles Denham

[
Shark Bay area of Western Australia, surveyed by Denham] Admiral Sir Henry Mangles Denham (28 August 1800 – 3 July 1887) attained the rank of Admiral in the Royal Navy.

Denham entered the Navy at the age of 12 and specialised in hydrographic work. In 1826, he married Isabella (? - 1865), daughter of Rev. Joseph Cole, of Carmarthen. From October 1827, he was Lieutenant commander in "HMS Linnet", surveying the coast of France. From September 1828 to March 1835, he surveyed the Bristol Channel, and the ports of Liverpool and Milford. On 28 February 1839 he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. From 15 January 1842 he was Commander (second in charge) in "HMS Lucifer", commanded by Frederick William Beechey, surveying the coast of Ireland. On 30 July 1845, he was made Commander of HMS Avon, surveying the west coast of Africa.

urvey of the South Pacific, 1852-1861

On 18 February 1852 Denham was made Captain of "HMS Herald". [The 500-ton "Herald" was launched as "Termagant" on 15 November 1822, recommissioned as the survey ship "Herald" in 1824, and taken out of service in 1864.] As captain of "HMS Herald", he carried out major survey work around Australia, New Caledonia and other parts of the Southwest Pacific in the period 1852 to 1861.

The voyage of "HMS Herald" earned him a lasting place in the history of maritime surveying. For a decade, the "Herald" surveyed and charted known land masses and suspected hazards in the south-west Pacific and substantial parts of the Australian coast, thereby establishing safe routes for shipping. Some of the "Herald's" charts are still in use. At the time of Denham's voyages, the south-west Pacific was a mission field, a site of commercial activity, and a colonial outpost. The natural history specimens gathered by naturalists William Grant Milne and John MacGillivray on the expedition resulted in significant additions to botanical and ornithological collections.

The voyage began in England on 21 February 1852, arriving in Australia on 18 February 1853. The ship then began its survey by visiting Lord Howe Island, the Isle of Pines (New Caledonia) and Aneityum (Vanuatu) (19 February 1853 to 1 January 1854); New Zealand and Raoul Island, (2 January 1854 to 2 September 1854); Fiji, (3 September 1854 to 24 November 1854); and Norfolk Island (June 1855). After a second visit to Fiji, (25 June 1855 to 3 February 1856), the "Herald" was involved with the resettlement of the Pitcairn Islanders to Norfolk Island, (4 February 1856 to 26 June 1856). A third visit was then undertaken to Fiji, (27 June 1856 to 26 February 1857), followed by the survey of Port Jackson, New South Wales, (27 February 1857 to 20 December 1857); Bass Strait, King George Sound and Shark Bay (21 December 1857 to 29 June 1858). After three visits to the Coral Sea, (30 June 1858 to 23 May 1860), the "Herald" began the first leg of its homeward voyage, Sydney to Surabaya, (24 May 1860 to 20 November 1860), departing Surabaya on 21 November 1860 and arriving at Chatham on June 1, 1861.

Commander-in-chief, Pacific

From 10 May 1864 to 21 November 1866, Denham held the rank of Commander-in-chief, Pacific. In 1866, he was knighted for his hydrographical services. He retired with the rank of Rear-Admiral in 1866.

The town of Denham, Western Australia named is after him, as is the New Caledonian endemic tree "Meryta denhamii". Denham island, British Columbia was named after him by a fellow Royal Navy surveyor.

ee also

*John MacGillivray
*William Grant Milne

External links

* [http://www.anbg.gov.au/biography/denham-henry-mangles.html Australian National Botanic Gardens, Biography]
* [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowBiog.php?id=449 Biography of Henry Mangles Denham, RN]
* [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=2166 Mid-Victorian RN vessel HMS Termagant (Herald)]

Notes

References

* David, A. (1995). The voyage of HMS Herald to Australia and the South-west Pacific 1852-1861 under the command of Captain Henry Mangles Denham. Miegunyah Press Series. Carlton, Victoria: Melbourne University Press.
* Oliver, R., 'The Vegetation of the Kermadec Islands'. "Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand", Volume 42, 1909, p.121. URL: [http://rsnz.natlib.govt.nz/volume/rsnz_49/rsnz_49_00_003860.html RSNZ] , accessed 3 January 2007.