Henry Roberts (abt. 1756 - 1796)

Born about 1756 in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England

Died 25 Aug 1796 at about age 40 in Jamaica

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Biography

Henry Roberts (1756–1796), a native to Shoreham, Sussex, was an officer in the Royal Navy who served with Captain Cook on his last two voyages.^[1][2]

Roberts served as lieutenant on Cook's HMS Discovery, where he was entrusted with many hydrographic and cartographic tasks, and also met then-midshipman George Vancouver. Roberts spent many years after that voyage preparing the detailed charts that went into Cook's posthumous Atlas. Roberts also served on HMS Resolution where he was to make a painting of the ship.

In 1790, Roberts was appointed to command a newly built HMS Discovery on another round-the-world voyage and selected George Vancouver as his first lieutenant. However, the Nootka Crisis called both men to duty elsewhere, and upon its resolution, Vancouver was given command of the historic voyage. At age of 40, Roberts died on 25 August 1796, Captain of HMS Undaunted in the West Indies, where he contracted yellow fever.

in November of 1791, his youngest daughter, Mary Peck Roberts married William J. Stephens Esq, a Lieutenant at the Royal Navy. ^[3]

Vancouver named Point Roberts after Henry Roberts.

Research Notes

1. Son of Henry Roberts and Susannah (Stow)
2. Husband of Harriet (Stow); married 30 Nov 1782 at St. Gregory by St. Paul's, London, England
3. Baptized 17 Mar 1757 Shoreham, Sussex
4. Eldest of five sons
5. Six children; five daughters living after his death^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Naish, John (1996). The Interwoven Lives of George Vancouver, Archibald Menzies, Joseph Whidbey and Peter Puget: The Vancouver Voyage of 1791–1795. The Edward Mellen Press, Ltd. ISBN 0-7734-8857-X.
2. ↑ Kentish Gazette - Friday 08 January 1790 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000235/17900108/018/0004
3. ↑ Hampshire Chronicle - Monday 14 November 1791 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000230/17911114/010/0003
4. ↑ https://morethannelson.com/officer/henry-roberts/ retrieved 20 Jan 2023

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Roberts_(Royal_Navy_officer) retrieved 20 Jan 2023

• https://www.geographicus.com/P/ctgy&Category_Code=robertshenry