Edwin De Haven
Encyclopedia
Edwin Jesse De Haven was a United States Navy
officer and explorer of the first half of the 19th century.
He was born in Philadelphia and became a midshipman
at the age of 10, serving until 1857. De Haven participated in the Wilkes Expedition, officially known as the United States Exploring Expedition, from 1839 to 1842.
Edwin Jesse De Haven's most notable achievement was serving as captain of the Advance
. Together with Rescue
, the ship participated in the Arctic search mission
to discover the remains of John Franklin
's earlier, 1847, Arctic expedition. The two ships left New York
on May 5, 1850. De Haven and his crew were at sea for sixteen months, spending the winter inside the Arctic circle
.
After returning from the expedition, Edwin Jesse De Haven served in the U.S. Coast Survey, before spending the rest of his career at the United States Naval Observatory
under superintendent Matthew Fontaine Maury
. He was placed on the retired list in 1862 on account of impaired vision. He died in Philadelphia in May 1865.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer and explorer of the first half of the 19th century.
He was born in Philadelphia and became a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
at the age of 10, serving until 1857. De Haven participated in the Wilkes Expedition, officially known as the United States Exploring Expedition, from 1839 to 1842.
Edwin Jesse De Haven's most notable achievement was serving as captain of the Advance
USS Advance (1850)
The first USS Advance was a brigantine in the United States Navy which participated in an arctic rescue expedition. Advance was built in 1847 as Augusta in New Kent County, Virginia and loaned to the Navy on 7 May 1850 by Mr. Henry Grinnell to participate in the search for Sir John Franklin's...
. Together with Rescue
USS Rescue (1850)
The first USS Rescue was a brig in service with the United States Navy.The brigs Rescue and , specially reinforced and fitted out for Arctic service, were offered on loan to the U.S. Government by Henry Grinnell in 1850 for use in a rescue mission tracing the ill-fated expedition which, in May...
, the ship participated in the Arctic search mission
First Grinnell Expedition
The First Grinnell Expedition of 1850 was the first American effort, financed by Henry Grinnell, to determine the fate of the lost Franklin Polar Expedition. Led by Lieutenant Edwin De Haven, the...
to discover the remains of John Franklin
John Franklin
Rear-Admiral Sir John Franklin KCH FRGS RN was a British Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer. Franklin also served as governor of Tasmania for several years. In his last expedition, he disappeared while attempting to chart and navigate a section of the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic...
's earlier, 1847, Arctic expedition. The two ships left New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on May 5, 1850. De Haven and his crew were at sea for sixteen months, spending the winter inside the Arctic circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
.
After returning from the expedition, Edwin Jesse De Haven served in the U.S. Coast Survey, before spending the rest of his career at the United States Naval Observatory
United States Naval Observatory
The United States Naval Observatory is one of the oldest scientific agencies in the United States, with a primary mission to produce Positioning, Navigation, and Timing for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Department of Defense...
under superintendent Matthew Fontaine Maury
Matthew Fontaine Maury
Matthew Fontaine Maury , United States Navy was an American astronomer, historian, oceanographer, meteorologist, cartographer, author, geologist, and educator....
. He was placed on the retired list in 1862 on account of impaired vision. He died in Philadelphia in May 1865.
External links
- Biography of De Haven from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, U.S. Naval Historical Center
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- See an 1858 map Preliminary chart of entrance to Brazos River, Texas / from a trigonometrical survey under the direction of A. Bache; triangulation by J.S. Williams ; topography by J.M. Wampler; hydrography by the parties under the command of E.J. De Haven & J.K. Duer., hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
- Guide to the Edwin Jesse De Haven Papers, 1832-1928 MS 211 held by Special Collection & Archives, Nimitz Library at the United States Naval Academy