powder monkeys, 43, 214

  press gangs, 21–24

  prime meridian, 64

  Prince George, HMS, 232, 236, 237

  Q

  quadrant, 34

  quartermasters, 33

  R

  racism, 31, 108, 223, 248

  rafts, for bird hunting, 118–19

  Raleigh, Sir Walter, 15

  rats, 17, 56, 78, 96

  refeeding syndrome, 195

  religion, 45–46, 58, 80, 108, 120, 127, 134, 157, 196, 227, 236, 250

  Reynolds, Joshua, 47

  Richmond, Thomas, 218

  Rio de Janiero, 198

  Rio Grande, 194, 197

  Robert, 144, 145–46

  Robins, Benjamin, 250

  Rodger, N. A. M., 46, 221

  Rogers, Woodes, 79; A Cruising Voyage Round the World, 79–80

  Rotten Row, 16

  Rousseau, Jean-Jacques, 5, 251

  Royal George, 16

  Royal Navy, 9–26, 29–31, 45, 109, 114, 137, 180, 243–44; aftermath of Wager affair, 253–57; Anson squadron mission, 13–14, 42, 89, 91, 126, 149–50, 155, 209; Articles of War, 62, 114, 116, 137, 227, 233–34, 237; Black seamen, 31, 103, 248–49; castaways exiled from, 203–8; court-martial of Wager castaways, 5, 203–4, 231, 232–35, 237–44; crews, 19–24, 27–42; gunner duties, 45–46; hierarchies and regulations, 31–34, 87, 109, 137–39, 144, 158–59, 181, 210–11, 233–35, 241; press gangs, 21–24; shortage of seamen, 19–25; uniforms, 30–31; victory over Covadonga, 213–20, 238; warship construction, 15–17; see also Anson expedition; specific ships and officers

  S

  St. Catherine, 55–56, 77

  St. Julian, 66–67

  Samar Island, 212–13

  sandglass, 65

  Santiago, 226

  Saumarez, Philip, 56, 67, 77, 210, 213, 216, 219

  Saunders, Charles, 238

  Scotland, 11

  scurvy, 74–81, 85, 89, 92, 117, 210

  sea lions, 124, 125

  sea literature, 39, 52, 63, 70, 79–80, 84, 96, 132, 150, 256; narratives of castaways, 202–8, 228–31, 248–51, 254–56; see also castaway narratives; specific authors and works

  seals, 124, 125, 188, 194–96

  sea urchins, 124, 129

  seaweed, 117, 134, 185, 187

  seceders, 133–39, 148, 156, 166–68, 174, 185; decision to stay on Wager Island, 166–68

  Selkirk, Alexander, 79–80, 122

  The Sequel to Bulkeley and Cummin’s Voyage of the South-Seas, 230

  Severn, 15, 22, 39, 78, 87–88, 209, 238; disappearance of, 87–88, 90; passage around Cape Horn, 78, 82, 86, 87–88

  Shaftesbury, Earl of, 48

  sheep, 128

  Shelvocke, George, 141–42, 163

  shipbuilding, 15–17

  “ship’s fever,” see typhus

  silk, 14, 19

  silver, 13, 14, 220, 253

  slaugh cakes, 117

  slave rebellions, 246–48

  slave trade, 13, 31, 228, 243, 248–49

  slops, 30–31

  Smith, Thomas, 136–37

  Smith Island, 256

  Smollett, Tobias, The Adventures of Roderick Random, 52

  snails, 124

  Sobel, Dava, Longitude, 64, 65

  South America, 13, 55, 82

  South Carolina, 255

  South China Sea, 211–12

  Spain, 3, 10, 12–15, 55, 63, 126–27, 193, 194, 210–20, 224, 253; Armada hunt for Anson squadron, 41–42, 43–58, 66, 70, 151, 226; Cheap captured by, 225–27; colonialism, 193, 194, 220; conquistadores, 14, 57–58, 64–68, 126–27, 193, 194, 195, 226–27, 246; slave rebellions against, 246–48; trading empire, 14, 149; war with England, 10, 12–15, 41–42, 43–58, 89, 149–51, 210–20, 226–27, 242–44

  Speedwell, 163–69, 173–98; arrival in Brazil, 197–98, 201–2; Brazil plan and voyage, 165–69, 173–76, 177–84, 192–98; casualties, 179–80, 183–84, 195–98, 245; construction of, 147–57, 163; food, 165–66, 175, 179–80, 183–84, 193–96; launch of, 163, 168–69; life on, 177–84; navigation, 165–69, 177–84, 192–98; rudder broken, 196

  Speedwell (of Shelvocke), 141–42, 163

  spices, 14, 19

  Staten Island, 70, 71

  steamer ducks, 119, 124

  Steuart, Sir James, 237–38

  Stewart, James, 181

  Strait of Le Maire, 70, 74

  Strait of Magellan, 68, 124, 150–57; navigation, 150–57, 160, 177–84, 192–98

  sugar, 13, 19, 243

  surgeons, 28, 33, 51–52, 54, 56, 75–76, 93, 99, 121, 144–45, 214, 218

  Swift, Jonathan, 34

  T

  tars, 21

  tenders, 22

  Teredo navalis, 16

  termites, 16

  Thames River, 18, 19

  Thomas, Pascoe, 51, 56, 66, 68, 74, 83, 86, 88, 217, 219, 249; narrative of, 249

  Thomson, James, 244

  Tierra del Fuego, 68, 69, 70, 124, 150, 151

  timepieces, 64–65

  topmen, 33, 44, 82, 84

  Toucan, 56

  Tower of London, 22, 159

  trade, 12–13, 14, 15, 17, 19; slave, 13, 31, 228, 243, 248–49

  Trafalgar, Battle of, 49

  transport boats, 100, 101, 133, 149, 211; Brazil plan and voyage, 4, 150–57, 158, 160, 165–69, 173–76, 177–84, 192–98

  treason, 227, 230

  Trial, 24, 41, 49, 56–57, 66, 67, 78, 209, 210; abandonment of, 209; passage around Cape Horn, 69, 76, 78

  trimmers, 44

  True and Impartial Journey of a Voyage to the South-Seas, and Round the Globe, in His Majesty’s Ship the Centurion, Under the Command of Commodore George Anson, 249

  typhus, 20, 50–58

  U

  Universal Spectator, 207

  V

  Valdivia, 89

  Valparaíso, 226

  Vernon, Edward, 13, 242

  Virgil, 34

  vitamin deficiencies, 77

  Voltaire, 5; Candide, 237

  A Voyage Round the World in the Years 1740-1744 by “George Anson,” 249–51

  Voyage to the South-Seas, in the Years 1740-1, 207

  vultures, 111, 146

  W

  Wager, 3–6, 17–26, 147, 178, 197; aftermath of, 253–57; Cheap as captain of, 41–42, 50, 58, 61–81, 82–96, 99–106, 109, 113, 133, 141, 147–57, 164; construction and repairs, 17–19, 86; court-martial of officers and crew, 5, 203–4, 231, 232–35, 237–44; crew, 19, 27–39, 41; departure from England, 24–26; disease, 50–58, 74–81, 85, 89, 92, 117; evacuation of, 100–102; excavation of, 114–17; food, 32, 36, 75, 85, 101, 115–16; gunnery, 43–49; hunted by Spanish armada, 41–42, 42–58, 66, 70, 151, 226; left alone, 88; life at sea, 27–39; logbooks, 47–49, 102, 120; mutiny allegations, 4–5, 158–69, 173–76, 202–8, 229–36; narratives, 202–8, 228–31, 248–51, 254–56; passage around Cape Horn, 62–72, 73–81, 82–90; press on, 229–30, 242; press gangs, 23; public opinion on, 208, 229; renegades and drunks, 101, 103, 105–6, 109, 116; at St. Catherine, 55–56; at St. Julian, 66–67; separation from squadron, 88–96; shakeup of commanders, 41, 58; shipwreck of, 4–5, 89–96, 99–106, 239; social hierarchy, 31–34; transport boats, 100, 101; see also specific officers and crews; Wager Island castaways

  Wager, Sir Charles, 18–19, 65

  Wager Island castaways, 96, 99–169, 211; abandonment of Cheap, 166–69, 173–76, 185–86, 198, 202, 204–8, 225, 229, 234–35; aftermath of, 253–57; arrest of, 232–36; arrival in Brazil, 197–98, 201–2; birds, 107, 111, 118–19, 124, 125, 134, 185; Brazil plan and voyage, 4, 150–57, 158, 160, 165–69, 173–76, 177–84, 192–98; cannibalism, 162–63,191; casualties, 122, 129, 133, 139, 146, 162–63, 179–80, 189, 191, 195–98, 223; climate and plant life, 107–12, 117, 124, 131–32, 257; court-martial of, 5, 203–4, 231, 232–35, 237–44; exile from Navy, 203–8; food, 107–114, 117–22, 124, 128–39, 149, 162–63, 185; food theft and arrests, 135–39, 166; Kawésqar people and, 123–30; life on island, 107–12, 113–22, 123–39; longboat modified into ark, 147–57, 163; mounting tensions, 122, 130, 133–39, 140–46, 148–69; mutiny plot and allegations, 4–5, 158–69, 173–76, 202–8, 229–36; naming of island, 121; narratives of, 202–8, 228–31, 248–51, 254–56; petition, 153–55; press on, 229–30, 242; public opinion on, 208; rafts, 118–19, 123; return to England, 202–8, 221, 222–31; seceders, 133–39, 148, 156, 166–68, 174, 185; shelters, 107–12, 119–21, 128–29, 134, 187; shooting of Cozens, 141–46, 147, 159, 160, 164, 167, 203, 233–34, 249, 253–54; social hierarchies, 109, 116–17, 120–22, 130, 133–39, 140–46, 148–69; threat of rebelliousness, 109, 116, 117, 122, 130, 133–39, 140–46, 148–69; winter, 123–24, 131–32; see also specific castaways

  waisters, 33

  Wales, Prince and Princess of, 221

  Walpole, Robert, 20

  Walter, Reverend Richard, 14, 24, 40, 42, 55, 70, 71, 74, 75, 77, 79, 84, 85, 88, 249–51; narrative of, 249–51

  Ward, Dr. Joshua, 76–77

  War of Jenkins’ Ear, 13, 36, 157, 198, 220, 227, 242–44, 255

  War of the Austrian Succession, 243, 255

  watch parties, 31, 32, 39, 82

  West Indies, 12, 16

  whale oil, 19, 124

  whales, 67, 124, 125

  Williams, Glyndwr, 241, 244

  williwaws, 151

  winds, 14–15, 25, 182, 194, 215; Cape Horn, 62, 73–74, 80, 82–96

  woodcocks, 111

  wood decay, 16–17

  wool, 243

  World War I, 244

  Y

  Yaghan, 125

  yellow fever, 242

  A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

  ILLUSTRATION CREDITS

  1

  Portrait of John Byron by Joshua Reynolds, 1748. Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire.

  Photo: Nottingham City Museums & Galleries / Bridgeman Images

  2

  The Press Gang. Painting by George Morland, 1790. Royal Holloway, University of London.

  Photo: Bridgeman Images

  3

  Portrait of David Cheap by Allan Ramsay, c. 1748. Reproduced with kind permission of the Strathyrum Trust.

  Photo: C. H. Layman

  4

  Painting of Deptford dockyard by John Cleveley, 1757. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.

  Photo: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

  5

  Gun deck.

  Photo: © Nick Depree

  6

  Copperplate engraving from Dr. Robert James, A Medicinal Dictionary, pub. T. Osborne, London, 1743.

  Photo: Wellcome Collection, London

  7

  The Burial at Sea of a Marine Officer. Painting by Eugène Isabey, 1836. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, purchase, Adrienne D’Amours Pineau and René Pineau Memorial Fund, the Museum Campaign 1988–1993 Fund, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ Volunteer Association Fund, and the Leacross Foundation Fund.

  Photo: MMFA / Christine Guest

  8

  Logbook from the Centurion.

  Photo: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London Gran_

  9

  An albatross off Cape Horn.

  Photo: Mike Hill / Getty Images

  10

  Colored engraving by Piercy Brett, December 1740. Collection of Colin Paul.

  Photo: © Michael Blyth

  11

  The “Wager” in Extremis. Painting by Charles Brooking, c. 1744. Collection of the late Commander David Joel, reproduced with permission.

  Photo: Dave Thompson, courtesy C. H. Layman

  12

  Wager Island.

  Photo: David Grann

  13

  Colored engraving by an anonymous artist, from The Loss of the Wager Man of War, one of Commodore Anson’s Squadron . . . and the Embarrassments of the Crew, Separation, Mutinous Disposition, Narrow Escapes, Imprisonment and Other Distresses, pub. T. Tegg, London, 1809.

  Photo: © Michael Blyth

  14

  Engraved frontispiece by Samuel Wale after Charles Grinion, for John Byron’s The Narrative of the Honourable John Byron. Being an Account of the Shipwreck of The Wager; and the Subsequent Adventures of Her Crew, pub. S. Baker, G. Leigh & T. Davies, London, 1768.

  Photo: Wellcome Collection, London

  15

  Wager Island.

  Photo: Chris Holt

  16

  Seaweed.

  Photo: David Grann.

  17

  Celery.

  Photo: David Grann

  18

  Photograph of a Kawésqar man by Martin Gusinde, 1923–1924.

  Photo: © Martin Gusinde / Anthropos Institute / Atelier EXB