February 27

Births - Explorers & Adventurers

1799day.year

Edward Belcher

(1799 - 1877)

British naval officer, hydrographer, and explorer

British naval officer hydrographer and explorer

British naval officer, hydrographer, and explorer who led important surveys and Arctic expeditions in the mid-19th century.

Edward Belcher was born in 1799 and joined the Royal Navy as a young officer. He earned distinction for hydrographic surveys in the Pacific and the Arctic regions. Belcher commanded HMS Sulphur during surveys of the northwest coast of North America. In 1852, he led an Arctic expedition in search of Sir John Franklin, demonstrating leadership under extreme conditions. His detailed charts and published accounts significantly advanced naval exploration before his death in 1877.

1799 Edward Belcher

1799day.year

Frederick Catherwood

(1799 - 1854)

British artist, architect and explorer

British artist architect and explorer

British artist and explorer celebrated for his detailed illustrations of Mayan ruins during early archaeological expeditions.

Frederick Catherwood was born in 1799 in London and trained as an architect and draftsman. He joined John Lloyd Stephens on expeditions to Central America between 1839 and 1841. Catherwood produced highly accurate illustrations of ancient Mayan sites such as Copán and Palenque. His drawings brought global attention to Mayan civilization and advanced the field of archaeology. Catherwood's work was published in travelogues that remain valuable records of 19th-century Mesoamerican architecture. He died in 1854.

Frederick Catherwood