Log of the Centurion by Philip Saumarez
Fascinated about the expeditions of Sir Francis Drake and Captain James Cook? Then you'll love this account of the Centurion's circumnavigation of the globe, one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of maritime exploration and naval warfare. In 1740, George Anson and his fleet set off to harass Spanish commerce in the Pacific and attack towns on the coasts of Chile and Peru. Four years later, over half the men had died and of the seven ships which left Portsmouth only the Centurion had completed its objective of attacking Spanish possessions around the globe. Although this journey came at the cost of numerous lives and ships, the Centurion had succeeded in capturing the biggest prize of all time, the Acapulco galleon. Captain Philip Saumarez kept a daily record of the voyage around the world in his four log books, which along with a wealth of letters and documents give brilliant insight into life aboard these ships. Leo Heaps has compiled and edited these manuscripts to provide a complete chronicle of the expedition which saw men decimated by scurvy, mutinies among marooned sailors, ships battered by mountainous waves around Cape Horn and eventual glory in the capture of the gold-laden Nuestra Se ora de la Covadonga. Log of the Centurion is a unique account of a daring maritime expedition across the high seas of the globe in the mid-eighteenth century. It is a tribute to her officers that she not only captured the greatest prize at sea, but that she returned at all. Christopher Lloyd, former Professor of History at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich It is an absorbing tale ... The merit of this book lies in its realistic evocation of the mid-18th century. We have fine descriptions of China and the delicate negotiations conducted with the Manchus for supplies and repairs. Patagonia, Juan Fernandez (Crusoe's island), Madeira, and other exotic places are vividly described. Regis A. Courtemanche, History: Reviews of New Books
Heaps, Leo: - Leo Heaps was born in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1922, and lived his life in California, England, and finally in Toronto. His early years were in the shadow of his father, a famous Parliamentarian, followed by his service in the British 1st Airborne during World War II, where he was awarded the Military Cross. His post-war exploits took him to the war of Independence in Israel, where he trained members of the Israeli army, and finally to the Hungarian revolution where he he worked with the International Rescue Committee. In civilian life, he had an unbridled passion for adventure, fine artwork, and writing, all of which played important roles in his various published works. An accomplished ocean sailor and tennis player, he always made time for these two pursuits, while still attending obscure auctions, where he uncovered several rare works of art. His various exploits produced life-long relationships with a fascinating array of colleagues from all walks of life, many of them becoming the basis for characters in some of his published works. Leo Heaps died in 1995.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781913518035 |
| ISBN 10 | 1913518035 |
| Title | Log of the Centurion |
| Author | Philip Saumarez |
| Series | The Age Of Sail |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Sapere Books |
| Year published | 2020-03-17 |
| Number of pages | 260 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |