1767day.year
Pitcairn Island is discovered by Midshipman Robert Pitcairn on an expeditionary voyage commanded by Philip Carteret.
In 1767, Midshipman Robert Pitcairn sighted and named Pitcairn Island during a British naval expedition.
On July 3, 1767, Midshipman Robert Pitcairn first spotted an uncharted island in the Pacific Ocean.
The expedition, commanded by Captain Philip Carteret aboard HMS Swallow, charted the island’s rugged coastline.
Pitcairn Island was later named in honor of the young officer’s discovery.
Its remote location, high cliffs, and dense vegetation made landing difficult for sailors.
The island would become famous centuries later as the refuge of HMS Bounty mutineers.
Today, Pitcairn Island remains one of the world’s smallest and most isolated inhabited territories.
The discovery highlights the age of Pacific exploration and naval navigation.
1767
Pitcairn Island
Midshipman
Philip Carteret