Tobias Furneaux RN (bef. 1735 - 1781)

Born before 21 Aug 1735 in Plymouth, Devon, England

Died 18 Sep 1781 after age 46 in Swilly, Devon, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Anthony Norman [send private message]

Biography

Tobias Furneaux RN is Notable.

Tobias Furneaux was born on 21 August 1735 at Swilly near Plymouth in Devon, England, the son of William Furneaux^[1] and his wife, Susanna Wilcocks.^[2][3] He was baptised at Stoke Damerel in Devon on the 21st of August 1735.^[4]

He was a navigator, and circumnavigated the earth twice.^[1]

Tobias died at Swilly, unmarried, on 18 September 1781.^[3]

When Commander James Cook set out from Plymouth aboard HMS "Resolution" on July 13th 1772 to explore and chart New Zealand he was accompanied by Captain Tobias Furneaux, Royal Navy, of Swilly House, aboard HMS "Adventure". Captain Furneaux, who was born at Swilly House on August 21st 1735, had already been around the world once between 1766 and 1768, with Wallis. When they arrived off New Zealand they parted company and Furneaux sailed south to explore and chart the coast of Tasmania. He gave several places local Devonshire names, like Eddystone Point, Mewstone, and even Swilly. Cook named the Furneaux Islands in his honour. Furneaux brought back to England a native named Otaheite, who he presented to the King in 1774. (From Brian Moseley’s Old Devonport . U.K.)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Dan Sprod, 'Furneaux, Tobias (1735–1781)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/furneaux-tobias-12932/text23367, published first in hardcopy 2005, accessed online 1 February 2019 by Clare Spring.
2. ↑ Wikipedia: Tobias Furneaux
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} More Than Nelson: Tobias Furneaux
4. ↑ England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 FHL Film Number 916919 (Stoke Damerel, Devon, England 21 Aug 1735 Tobias Furneaux son of William Furneaux and Susanna) Viewed at Ancestry. Text only