It is believed that the late William Anderson once had a house on the premises
of what is now Anderson's Bistro.
Of Scots ancestry, he served as a surgeon's mate, and
later surgeon, of the ' Resolution ' on Cook's second (1772 - 75)
and third (1776 - 79) voyages.
Cook testified in strong terms to his abilities and devotion.
Two Welshmen, David Samwell and Robert Davies, were 1st and 2nd
surgeon's mates in the third voyage under Andserson, who kept a
punctilious journal, recording the temperature six times daily,
the weather , the state of the sea, and their position.
In May 1778 the 'Resolution' , sailing Master 22 year old William
Bligh, of Bounty Fame, had reached the Bering Sea, Anderson's self
diagnosis of consumption (tuberculosis) six months earlier, had
now confined him to his cabin, "a pathetic huddled figure, who
could no linger even write". Cook visited him at least once a day,
and Samwell did what little he could to ease his suffering.
On 2nd August, Anderson was seen to be near death, he lasted through the night
and expired on Monday the 3rd august 1778. "His poor shrunken frame" was
wrapped in sacking , and he was consigned to the deep. An Island sighted
on that bay, was named Anderson Island by Cook "after his friend and companion".
Anderson wrote several short treatises;
A vocabulary of various languages, and the properties of Kerguelan
Cabbage (Pringlea antiscorbutia) were included in the narrative of the
third voyage. An account of some poisonous fish in south seas, and of
a detached rock near Cape Town, were published in ' Philosophical
Transactions' vols 66,68. A manuscript treatise, describing new animals
and plants seen on the voyage, was deposited in the Banksian library,
British Museum.
HMS Resolution 462 tons 111ft.
Originally a merchant ship 'Marquis of Granby' Purchased by Royal
Navy in 1770. Renamed HMS Drake, renamed 'Resolution' on Christmas
Day 1771. Captured by the French ship 'Sphinx' in the East Indies,
9th June 1782.
In 1768 the Royal Society, in conjunction with the Admiralty,
effected the first scientific expedition to the Pacific. A
rather obscure 40 year old, James Cook, was appointed to lead
the expedition, and hurriedly commissioned as a Lieutenant.
1st voyage, August 1768 - July 1771 - 'Endeavour Bark'
Cook promoted to Commander on return
2nd voyage, July 1772 - July 1775 - 'Resolution' - 'Adventure' (Tobias Furneaux)
Cook promoted to Captain on return.
3rd voyage, July 1776 - February 1779 'Resolution' - 'Discovery ( Charles Clerke)
Cook was killed by natives, 14th February 1779. Ship's company
returned to England in October 1780, under 1sr Lieutenant John
Gore, an American.
Cook's narrative of the voyage was completed by 2nd Lieutenant
James King, the son of a parson, "he was regarded as effeminate
by ruder members of the ship's company".
The above was first published by Anderson's Bistro To commemorate the
visit of the Bark Endeavour 9th - 19th May 1997.
