This section contains 885 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |
Born 1798,
New York, New York
Died 1877,
Washington, D.C.
Charles Wilkes was born in New York City, the son of a prosperous businessman. After being educated by his father in mathematics and navigation, he joined the merchant marine in 1815; he was appointed a midshipman in 1818. Wilkes continued his studies of navigation and astronomy and in 1833 was appointed head of the Navy’s Depot of Charts and Instruments, which later became the Naval Observatory and the Hydrographic Office.
Heads expedition to study oceans
For many years the U.S. government had discussed the idea of sending an exploring expedition to make a scientific study of the world’s oceans. On May 14, 1836, President Andrew Jackson signed a bill that created the U.S. South Seas Surveying and Exploring Expedition. In 1838, after many false starts, Wilkes was appointed to head the expedition although he was only a...
This section contains 885 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |