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Tobias Furneaux




Furneaux was born at Swilly near Plymouth . He entered the Royal Navy , and was employed on the French and Africa n coasts and in the West Indies during the latter part of the Seven Years' War (1760-1763). He served as second lieutenant of HMS ''Dolphin'' under Captain Samuel Wallis on the latter's voyage round the globe (August 1766 - May 1768). Furneaux was made a commander in November 1771, and commanded HMS ''Adventure'' which accompanied James Cook (in ''Resolution'' ) on his second voyage.

On this expedition Furneaux was twice separated from his leader ( February 8 , 1773 to May 19 , 1773 ; and October 22 , 1773 to October 14 , 1774 , the date of his return to England). On the former occasion he explored a great part of the south and east coasts of Tasmania , and made the earliest British chart of the same. Most of his names here survive; Cook, visiting this shore-line on his third voyage, confirmed Furneaux's account and delineation of it (with certain minor criticisms and emendations), and named after him the Furneaux Group of islands in Banks Strait , opening into Bass Strait , and the group now known as the Low Archipelago .

After ''Adventure'' was finally separated from ''Resolution'' off New Zealand in October 1773, Furneaux returned home alone, bringing with him Omai Of Ulaietea . This first South Sea Islander seen in the British Isles returned to his home with Cook in 1776–1777.

Furneaux was made a captain in 1775. During the American Revolutionary War , he commanded ''Siren'' in the British attack of 28 June 1776 upon Charleston, South Carolina .


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