Guide to the Journal of David Samwell (as filmed by the AJCP), 1772-1779

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Summary

Collection number:

M1583

Creator:

Samwell, David

Extent:

1 item

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series. Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February-23 September 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference.

Background

Content Summary:

The journal of the surgeon David Samwell, kept on the second Pacific voyage of H.M.S. Resolution in 1776-1779.

Includes Volume I and II of Capt. C. Clerke's logbooks kept on board the H.M.S. Resolution.

Biographical / Historical:

David Samwell (1751-1798) was born in Nantglyn in north Wales, where his father was the vicar. He was educated at one of the local grammar schools, probably Ruthin. In 1775 he gained his certificate as a second mate from the Court of Examiners at the Royal College of Surgeons. He was apprenticed to John Crosier, who had been surgeon on HMS Dolphin on its Pacific voyage in 1764-1766. In 1776 Crosier secured Samwell's appointment as surgeon's mate on HMS Resolution, commanded by James Cook. Following the death of the Surgeon William Anderson in August 1778, Cook promoted Samwell to the position of surgeon on HMS Discovery, commanded by Charles Clerke. Both Cook and Clerke died in 1779 and Lieutenant James King commanded HMS Discovery on the return voyage to England in 1780.

Samwell served under King on HMS Crocodile in 1780-1781 and later on HMS Kite. He retired on half-pay in 1786 and established a medical practice in London. He had provided some assistance to King on the publication of the official account of Cook's third voyage. In 1786, encouraged by Andrew Kippis, he published A narrative of the death of Captain James Cook, much of which was incorporated in the major biography published by Kippis in 1788. Samwell returned to sea in 1793 on the outbreak of war with France and served on HMS Marlborough and HMS Unicorn. In 1798 he was appointed as one of the surgeons to attend British prisoners-of-war in Paris, but he died in the same year.

Samwell was a leading figure in Welsh cultural activities in London. He was secretary and later vice-president of the Gwyneddigan Society, which had been founded in 1771 to read and discuss Welsh poetry and debate Welsh historical topics. He was also involved in the revival of eisteddfods. He published occasional poems in English and Welsh and became a friend of Anna Seward, the author of Elegy on Captain Cook (1780).

Reference: Martin Fitzpatrick, Nicholas Thomas and Jennifer Newell, eds. The death of Captain Cook and other writings by David Samwell (Cardiff, 2007).

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:: Available for Access.
Conditions Governing Use:: Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the British Library. For more information visit: How I use the images I order?-The British Library [https://www.bl.uk/help/how-can-i-use-the-images-i-order].