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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 , he was ordered 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 his farthest point up the Columbia, landing in eastern Multnomah County east of Portland and northwest of Mount Hood.

Late in 1792, Vancouver, stymied by conflicting instructions over Nootka Sound , sent Broughton back to England via Mexico and the Atlantic, bearing dispatches and requesting instructions.


LATER CAREER

In 1793 , Broughton was promoted to captain, given command of HMS Providence , and sent back to the Pacific to assist Vancouver. Correctly determining that Vancouver had returned to England having completed his survey Broughton voyaged to Asia and surveyed the coast of Hokkaidō before wintering at Macao . There Broughton purchased a small schooner which proved providential when, in 1797 ''Providence'' wrecked at Miyako Island (south of Okinawa ). Broughton and his crew continued the mission in the schooner, exploring northeast Asia, returning home in February 1799 .

Broughton continued service, seeing action at Basque Roads and in the 1811 Java expedition (where he was commodore).

Broughton died in Italy in 1821.


LEGACY