Robert FitzRoy

HMS Beagle in the Straits of Magellan

13-Jan-1833: The day HMS Beagle nearly sank

Charles Darwin’s closest brush with death during the Beagle voyage came on Sunday 13th January 1833, near that most infamous of nautical perils, Cape Horn.

Robert FitzRoy
(1805–1865)

Robert FitzRoy’s name will forever be associated with Charles Darwin’s. But he deserves to be remembered for his own many achievements.

The Dickens Connection

Dickens, FitzRoy and how a tragic loss at sea spurred efforts to forecast storms.

Book review: ‘Fossils, Finches and Fuegians’ by Richard Keynes

Charles Darwin’s adventures and siscoveries on the Beagle, 1832-1836.

185 years ago today...

On 22nd May, 1826, His Majesty's Ship 'Beagle' set sail from Plymouth on a surveying voyage to South America.

Serendipitous juxtaposition

Two items just came up one after the other on my RSS reader. Their juxtaposition pleased me.

FitzRoy's sword

Robert FitzRoy's ceremonial sword to be auctioned.

16-Apr-1834: Inspecting the Beagle’s bottom (‘a rather ticklish operation’)

On 16th April 1834, HMS Beagle was laid ashore on the banks of the Santa Cruz River to allow her keel to be inspected. The event resulted in one of the most iconic images of the famous ship. Read the story of the operation.