MEMOIRS OF THE NAVAL WORTHIES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH'S REIGN; OF THEIR GALLANT DEEDS, DARING ADVENTURES, AND SERVICES, IN THE INFANT STATE OF THE BRITISH NAVY.

London: John Murray, 1845. xvi,495pp. Half title. Contemporary black calf with gilt filet border by W.H. Dalton, with stamped signature on front pastedown. Joints rubbed, with upper board beginning to split at head of spine. Light wear to extremities. Front hinge cracked. Near fine internally. Overall, about very good. The author's own copy, with his armorial bookplate on front pastedown. Item #WRCAM40522

A valuable history of Elizabethan naval exploration, with chapters on important explorers including Sir Martin Frobisher, Captain John Davis, Sir John Hawkins, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Richard Hawkins, and Sir Walter Raleigh.

A uniquely interesting copy, since the author and original owner, Sir John Barrow (1764-1848), was an important early- nineteenth-century British geographer and explorer in his own right. Earlier in life, he travelled as secretary to Earl Macartney, ambassador to China and governor of the Cape of Good Hope colony. As second secretary of the admiralty (1804-6, 1807-48), Barrow encouraged the arctic expeditions of John Ross and William Parry. He was one of the founders of the Royal Geographical Society in 1830, and Point Barrow, Cape Barrow, and Barrow Strait were named in his honor. COLUMBIA ENCYCLOPEDIA, Sixth Edition, "Sir John Barrow."

Price: $500.00

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