Discovery of Jarvis Island by Eliza Frances Crew

August 21st, 1821

August 21st, 1821

Discovery of Jarvis Island by Eliza Frances Crew
How Long Ago?

203 years, 6 months, 22 days ago

Location

Jarvis Island, Central Pacific Ocean

Category

Exploration & Discovery

People
  • Crew of Eliza Frances
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Discovery of Jarvis Island by Eliza Frances Crew

The crew of the ship Eliza Frances discovered Jarvis Island in the central Pacific Ocean on August 21, 1821. This uninhabited island was later claimed by the United States in the 1850s. The discovery marked a significant point in the exploration of the Pacific, as it added to the growing knowledge of the islands in this vast ocean. The finding of Jarvis Island reflected the maritime advancements of the early 19th century.

Jarvis Island is part of the Phoenix Islands.

The ship Eliza Frances was on an exploration voyage.

Claimed by the United States many years later.

Significant for maritime navigation improvements.

What Happened?

Crew members aboard the ship Eliza Frances, during their Pacific expedition, stumbled upon Jarvis Island on August 21, 1821. Located in the central Pacific Ocean, this small, uninhabited island is part of the Phoenix Islands group and was named after the ship. The crew's encounter with Jarvis Island was part of a broader trend of maritime exploration driven by curiosity, trade ambitions, and the search for new resources during this period. The presence of such islands shaped navigational charts and influenced shipping routes in the Pacific, opening up opportunities for future exploration and exploitation.

As the crew documented their find, they began to understand the significance of such discoveries in enhancing maritime maps, which were essential for naval navigation and commerce. The expedition highlighted early 19th-century maritime efforts that aimed to unveil the hidden swathes of the Earth largely unknown to European explorers until then. Jarvis Island was not only an important geographical find but also indicated the increasing interest of Western nations to claim and utilize remote islands through burgeoning imperial ambitions.

In the years following the discovery, Jarvis Island saw an influx of attention, particularly from the United States, which claimed it in the 1850s under the Guano Islands Act. The significance of the island for guano extraction changed its status forever, allowing the U.S. to capitalize on its natural resources. The finding of Jarvis Island thus represents the intersection of discovery, natural resource exploitation, and imperialism that characterized the era of exploration well into the 19th century.

Why Does it Matter?

The discovery of Jarvis Island is interesting as it represents the broader narrative of Pacific exploration, where uncharted territories were being mapped and claimed. This event marked the beginning of an era where remote islands became points of strategic interest for imperial expansion and resource extraction. It laid the groundwork for future geopolitical maneuvers in the Pacific Ocean, driven by nations eager to expand their empires and economic reach in the 19th century.

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