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William Robert Broughton




In November 1791 , while exploring the South Pacific, his crew were the first Europe ans to sight the Chatham Islands . In October 1792 , while exploring the Pacific Northwest of North America , Vancouver ordered Broughton to explore the lower Columbia, between present-day Oregon and Washington , with several boats from Broughton's ship. Broughton and his party navigated upriver as far as the Columbia River Gorge . On October 30 , he reached the his farthest point up the Columbia, landing in eastern Multnomah County east of Portland and northwest of Mt. Hood. He named Mt. Hood for Viscount Samuel Hood , Admiral of the British Fleet.

A plaque erected by the State of Oregon along Interstate 84 in the Columbia Gorge commemorates the spot where Broughton landed in 1792.