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| March 19th | Lieutenant John Hawkey (Birth) | ||||
| Liskeard – born John Hawkey (1780 - 1816) joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman and, fighting in the Peninsular War, was captured and spent eleven years in captivity at Verdun. Promoted to Lieutenant whilst in captivity but with his prospects of further promotion dashed by more than a decade as a prisoner of war he joined an expedition to explore the Congo under the command of his friend and fellow Verdun captive Captain Tuckey RN.
On February 16th, 1816, the expedition, in ships named The Congo and Dorothy set sail for Zaire with provisions for three months. A number of learned botanists, anatomists, horticulturalists and geologists were on board along with two African interpreters. From departure, the voyage was difficult and the boat was becalmed in the English Channel for a month but eventually reached Cape Padrone, at the mouth of the Congo, on July 6th. The transport was left a little way up and exploration began by longboat. They were met by the local ruler and hundreds of Africans, together with a Catholic priest. Proceeding up the river, they encountered an American slaver flying Swedish colours. Several Portuguese slave ships had departed on hearing of the arrival of the English. The English adventurers met many tribes and rulers and attempted to engage in some trade but the suspicious locals believed the English were only interested in slaving. On returning, the explorers were struck down by sickness and many of the party died. When the survivors reached The Congo they found it had been largely broken up to make coffins but Dorothy was sound. Sadly, however, Hawkey died on October 6th. |
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