Charles Wilkes

Charles Wilkes was a renowned United States Navy officer, explorer, and cartographer who led the United States Exploring Expedition from 1838 to 1842. He was born in New York City to a family of English American descent and was related to John Wilkes, a British radical and journalist. Wilkes was educated at Columbia College and later attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he was influenced by Robert Fulton and Matthew Fontaine Maury. He was also acquainted with James Renwick and Joseph Henry, who were prominent figures in the American scientific community.

● Early Life and Education

Wilkes was born to Charles Wilkes (1762-1814) and Mary Seton Wilkes in New York City. His family was connected to the Wilkes-Barre family, who were Loyalists during the American Revolutionary War. Wilkes' early education took place at Columbia College, where he studied under Joseph Henry and James Renwick. He later attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he was influenced by Robert Fulton and Matthew Fontaine Maury. During his time at West Point, Wilkes was also acquainted with Albert Church, Edmund Kirby Smith, and Jedediah Hotchkiss, who would later become notable figures in the American Civil War.

● Career

Wilkes began his career in the United States Navy as a midshipman in 1818, serving under Commodore Isaac Chauncey on the USS Independence. He later served on the USS Franklin under Commodore John Rodgers and participated in the Second Barbary War. Wilkes was also influenced by Matthew Fontaine Maury, who was a prominent figure in the United States Navy and a pioneer in the field of oceanography. He was acquainted with James Dwight Dana, Titian Peale, and Joseph Pitty Couthouy, who were members of the American Philosophical Society and the National Academy of Sciences. Wilkes' career was also marked by his involvement in the United States Coast Survey, where he worked under Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler and Alexander Dallas Bache.

● Exploring Expedition

The United States Exploring Expedition was a significant milestone in Wilkes' career, during which he led an expedition to the Pacific Ocean and the Antarctic Ocean. The expedition, which took place from 1838 to 1842, was authorized by Congress and supported by President Martin Van Buren and President John Tyler. Wilkes was accompanied by notable figures such as James Dwight Dana, Titian Peale, and Joseph Pitty Couthouy, who were responsible for collecting and documenting specimens and data during the expedition. The expedition visited various locations, including the Hawaiian Islands, the Marquesas Islands, and the Fiji Islands, and made significant contributions to the fields of oceanography, geology, and anthropology. Wilkes' expedition also encountered the British Royal Navy and the French Navy, and he was received by King Kamehameha III of Hawaii and Queen Pomare IV of Tahiti.

● Later Life and Legacy

After the United States Exploring Expedition, Wilkes continued to serve in the United States Navy and played a significant role in the American Civil War. He was appointed as the commander of the USS San Jacinto and participated in the Trent Affair, which involved the United Kingdom and the Confederate States of America. Wilkes was also involved in the Battle of Port Royal and the Siege of Charleston Harbor, and he was acquainted with notable figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and William Tecumseh Sherman. Wilkes' legacy is marked by his contributions to the fields of oceanography, geology, and anthropology, and he is remembered as one of the most prominent explorers of the 19th century. He was also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, and he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society.

● Personal Life

Wilkes was married to Jane Renwick Wilkes, who was the daughter of James Renwick and a member of the Renwick family. He had several children, including John Wilkes (1833-1906) and Edmund Wilkes, who followed in his footsteps and pursued careers in the United States Navy and the United States Army. Wilkes was also acquainted with notable figures such as Robert Livingston Stevens, Gouverneur Kemble, and William Chauvenet, who were members of the American scientific community. He was a resident of Washington, D.C. and New York City, and he died on February 8, 1877, at the age of 78. Wilkes is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, alongside other notable figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and William Tecumseh Sherman. Category:American explorers