Peter Dillon
Encyclopedia
Peter Dillon was a sandalwood
trader, self-proclaimed explorer, raconteur, and discoverer of the fate of the La Pérouse
expedition.
, the son and namesake of an Irish
immigrant. Not much is known of his early life. He claimed to have joined the Royal Navy
at one point and to have served at Trafalgar
. He left the Royal Navy and made his way to Calcutta as a young man, eventually becoming a trader in the South Seas
.
In 1813 he sailed to Fiji
as third mate
in the Hunter under Captain James Robson to look for sandalwood. While there, tensions between the Europe
ans and the Fijians escalated into violence; many people on both sides of the conflict lost their lives. Dillon recounted the events of this battle in his Narrative and Successful Result of a Voyage to the South Seas (1829). In it he describes holding out with five other people, including Charles Savage
, on a rock that was later called "Dillon's Rock" while native Fijians prepared a cannibal feast at which they devoured Dillon's fallen comrades. Recent scholarship has cast doubt on the veracity of Dillon's account, particularly as it pertains to his supposed eyewitness account of mass cannibalism (see Gananath Obeyesekere
's Cannibal Talk).
During his time as a trader he wrecked at least three ships — The Calder, St Patrick and on 9 July 1821, Phatisalam
.
, one of the Santa Cruz Islands
. There he found many of the inhabitants in possession of items of European manufacture such as sword guards, teacups, knives, and glass beads. He learned from the Tikopians that the items had come from two ships wrecked some years before on the neighboring island of Vanikoro.
Dillon was convinced he'd happened on the wreckage of La Boussole
and L'Astrolabe
, the two French frigates of the La Pérouse
expedition. The ships had disappeared in the Pacific
after calling at Botany Bay
in 1788, and their fate had been a mystery for nearly 40 years.
Dillon sailed to Calcutta to report his discovery and garner support for an exploration of Vanikoro. The British government in India
gave him command of a survey vessel, the Research, and in January 1827 Dillon sailed for Vanikoro. After a long and difficult journey, he reached Vanikoro in September 1827. While there he recovered items from the wrecks, including a ship's bell of French make. He also tried to learn more about the fate of the French explorers from the older inhabitants of the island. According to Dillon's account in his Narrative and Successful Result, he learned that both ships had been wrecked on the reefs during a storm, that some of the survivors had built a boat from the wreckage and sailed off in it, and that two survivors had remained on the island but had since died.
Dillon eventually made his way to France
, where he met Barthélemy de Lesseps
, the only living survivor of the La Pérouse expedition. De Lesseps had served the expedition as a Russian
interpreter; he'd left the expedition in Petropavlovsk
, Siberia
and made his way overland back to Europe
. He identified the items brought back by Dillon as items that had been carried on the French ships.
In 1829 Dillon published his Narrative and Successful Result. He also received a knighthood and pension from the French government. Much of the remainder of his life was spent in a disappointing search for greater recognition for his achievements. Although generally not recalled, he was one of the character witnesses called by Sir Fitzroy Kelly
in the defense of John Tawell
for the poison murder of Sarah Hart in March 1845. By all accounts a passionate and complex individual, Peter Dillon by turns charmed and alienated the people he encountered. He died in Paris
on 9 February 1847.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is the name of a class of fragrant woods from trees in the genus Santalum. The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and unlike many other aromatic woods they retain their fragrance for decades. As well as using the harvested and cut wood in-situ, essential oils are also extracted...
trader, self-proclaimed explorer, raconteur, and discoverer of the fate of the La Pérouse
Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse
Jean François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse was a French Navy officer and explorer whose expedition vanished in Oceania.-Early career:...
expedition.
Early career
Peter Dillon was born in MartiniqueMartinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
, the son and namesake of an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
immigrant. Not much is known of his early life. He claimed to have joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
at one point and to have served at Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
. He left the Royal Navy and made his way to Calcutta as a young man, eventually becoming a trader in the South Seas
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
.
In 1813 he sailed to Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
as third mate
Third Mate
A Third Mate or Third Officer is a licensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The third mate is a watchstander and customarily the ship's safety officer and fourth-in-command...
in the Hunter under Captain James Robson to look for sandalwood. While there, tensions between the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
ans and the Fijians escalated into violence; many people on both sides of the conflict lost their lives. Dillon recounted the events of this battle in his Narrative and Successful Result of a Voyage to the South Seas (1829). In it he describes holding out with five other people, including Charles Savage
Charles Savage (beachcomber)
Charlie Savage, was a sailor and beachcomber known for his exploits on the islands of Fiji between 1808 and 1813.-Arrival at Fiji:...
, on a rock that was later called "Dillon's Rock" while native Fijians prepared a cannibal feast at which they devoured Dillon's fallen comrades. Recent scholarship has cast doubt on the veracity of Dillon's account, particularly as it pertains to his supposed eyewitness account of mass cannibalism (see Gananath Obeyesekere
Gananath Obeyesekere
Gananath Obeyesekere is Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at Princeton University and has done much work in his home country of Sri Lanka. He completed a B.A. in English at the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, followed by an M.A. and Ph.D at the University of Washington...
's Cannibal Talk).
During his time as a trader he wrecked at least three ships — The Calder, St Patrick and on 9 July 1821, Phatisalam
Phatisalam
The Phatisalam was a ship that was wrecked in 1821 leading to the death of eight people.The Phatisalam, a ship of 259 tons, was built in 1816 in Cochin, India. Under the command of Captain Peter Dillon the ship left Calcutta on 25 January 1821. It was a slow journey and in early poor weather the...
.
Discovery of La Pérouse Wrecks
In 1826, Dillon had command of the Elizabeth and was attempting to get to Fiji when he happened upon TikopiaTikopia
Tikopia is a small and high island in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Covering an area of 5 km² , the island is the remnant of an extinct volcano. Its highest point, Mt. Reani, reaches an elevation of 380 m above sea level. Lake Te Roto covers an old volcanic crater which is 80 m...
, one of the Santa Cruz Islands
Santa Cruz Islands
The Santa Cruz Islands are a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, part of Temotu Province of the Solomon Islands. They lie approximately 250 miles to the southeast of the Solomon Islands Chain...
. There he found many of the inhabitants in possession of items of European manufacture such as sword guards, teacups, knives, and glass beads. He learned from the Tikopians that the items had come from two ships wrecked some years before on the neighboring island of Vanikoro.
Dillon was convinced he'd happened on the wreckage of La Boussole
French ship Boussole (1781)
Boussole was a ship of the French Navy, famous for its exploration of the Pacific with Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse.It departed Brest on 1 August 1785 under La Pérouse, accompanied by the Astrolabe under Paul Antoine Fleuriot de Langle.The expedition vanished mysteriously in 1788...
and L'Astrolabe
French ship Astrolabe (1781)
The Astrolabe was a converted fluyt of the French Navy, famous for her travels with Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse.She departed Brest on 1 August 1785 under Paul Antoine Fleuriot de Langle, along with the Boussole under La Pérouse....
, the two French frigates of the La Pérouse
Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse
Jean François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse was a French Navy officer and explorer whose expedition vanished in Oceania.-Early career:...
expedition. The ships had disappeared in the Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
after calling at Botany Bay
Botany Bay
Botany Bay is a bay in Sydney, New South Wales, a few kilometres south of the Sydney central business district. The Cooks River and the Georges River are the two major tributaries that flow into the bay...
in 1788, and their fate had been a mystery for nearly 40 years.
Dillon sailed to Calcutta to report his discovery and garner support for an exploration of Vanikoro. The British government in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
gave him command of a survey vessel, the Research, and in January 1827 Dillon sailed for Vanikoro. After a long and difficult journey, he reached Vanikoro in September 1827. While there he recovered items from the wrecks, including a ship's bell of French make. He also tried to learn more about the fate of the French explorers from the older inhabitants of the island. According to Dillon's account in his Narrative and Successful Result, he learned that both ships had been wrecked on the reefs during a storm, that some of the survivors had built a boat from the wreckage and sailed off in it, and that two survivors had remained on the island but had since died.
Dillon eventually made his way to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where he met Barthélemy de Lesseps
Barthélemy de Lesseps
Jean-Baptiste Barthélemy de Lesseps was a French diplomat and writer, member of the scientific expedition of Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse and uncle of Ferdinand de Lesseps.-Family and early career:His childhood was spent in Hamburg and then St...
, the only living survivor of the La Pérouse expedition. De Lesseps had served the expedition as a Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
interpreter; he'd left the expedition in Petropavlovsk
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is the main city and the administrative, industrial, scientific, and cultural center of Kamchatka Krai, Russia. Population: .-History:It was founded by Danish navigator Vitus Bering, in the service of the Russian Navy...
, Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
and made his way overland back to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. He identified the items brought back by Dillon as items that had been carried on the French ships.
In 1829 Dillon published his Narrative and Successful Result. He also received a knighthood and pension from the French government. Much of the remainder of his life was spent in a disappointing search for greater recognition for his achievements. Although generally not recalled, he was one of the character witnesses called by Sir Fitzroy Kelly
Fitzroy Kelly
Sir Fitzroy Edward Kelly PC, KC , was an English commercial lawyer, Tory politician and judge.-Background and education:...
in the defense of John Tawell
John Tawell
John Tawell was a British murderer. In 1845, he became the first person to be arrested as the result of telecommunications technology....
for the poison murder of Sarah Hart in March 1845. By all accounts a passionate and complex individual, Peter Dillon by turns charmed and alienated the people he encountered. He died in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on 9 February 1847.
See also
- J. W. Davidson, Peter Dillon of Vanikoro: Chevalier of the South Seas, Oxford University Press, 1975.
- Peter Dillon, Narrative and Successful Result of a Voyage in the South Seas, Performed by Order of the Government of British India, to Ascertain the Actual Fate of La Pérouse's Expedition, in 2 volumes, London 1829.
- Gananath ObeyesekereGananath ObeyesekereGananath Obeyesekere is Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at Princeton University and has done much work in his home country of Sri Lanka. He completed a B.A. in English at the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, followed by an M.A. and Ph.D at the University of Washington...
, Cannibal Talk: The Man-Eating Myth and Human Sacrifice in the South Seas, University of California Press, 2005, especially chapter 7, "Narratives of the Self: Chevalier Peter Dillon's Fijian Cannibal Adventures."
- "Peter Dillon capitaine des mers du Sud" by Jean Guillou. Ed. l'Etrave (2002)