Robert Gray
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- For the Australian poet, see Robert Gray (poet)
- For the Anglican bishop of Cape Town, see Robert Gray (bishop)
Robert Gray (May 10, 1755 - Summer, 1806) was an American sea-captain and explorer who made trading voyages to the northwest coast of North America. In 1790, he became the first American to captain a circumnavigation of the globe.
[edit] Early life
Gray was born in Tiverton, Rhode Island. Little is known of his early life. He is said to have served in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War, but this is unsubstantiated. He is known, however, to have served in the Triangular trade of South Carolina, aboard the Pacific.
[edit] Explorations
In 1787, Robert Gray and Captain John Kendrick left Boston in two ships, to trade along the northwest coast. At the outset, Gray captained the Lady Washington and Kendrick captained the Columbia Rediviva, but the captains swapped vessels during the voyage, putting Gray in command of the Columbia. In it, he sailed to China, then on around the world, back to Boston, reaching it in 1790. In 1791, he again sailed the Columbia to the northwest coast. In 1792, he entered and named the Columbia River, and claimed it for the United States.
[edit] Namesakes
- Grays Point on the Columbia River
- Grays Harbor (the bay) and Grays Harbor County, in Washington State
- Robert Gray Avenue in Tiverton, Rhode Island
