Journey of a Logbook: Part 1

02 Mar 2009

 On the 9th instant I was commission'd to command his Majesty's ship Centurion at Portsmouth ... On the 13th ... hoisted the pendant and this day made my appearance on board.

With these words George Anson began the first log of his new command, HMS Centurion. The logbooks held at the National Maritime Museum are amongst the best travelled items in the archive collection. In the case of Anson's 1737-1739 log the journey is not yet over as it will be amongst some of the first items to be packed and moved to off-site storage as part of the South West Wing store decant. During the move period we will be posting regular updates on the log's progress tracking its voyage towards a new storage location.

Built in Portsmouth and launched in January 1732, the Centurion was a 4th rate vessel of the line of some 1005 tons, carrying 60 guns, and measuring 144 feet in length. Anson was appointed captain in December 1737 and was quickly at sea, sailing to the coast of west Africa to help protect British trade there before crossing to the West Indies. 

The Centurion returned to England towards the end of 1739 and the following year, on 18 September 1740, sailed at the head of a squadron of eight ships sent on an expedition against the Spanish in the Pacific. It was for this expedition that Anson is best remembered and it propelled him into the public eye as a national hero. 

Due to a delayed start to the voyage the squadron attempted to round Cape Horn in March 1741 at perhaps the worst possible time of year. A number of ships were either wrecked or forced to turn back. By August only the Centurion was still afloat and the effects of scurvy and terrible cold were taking their toil.

Unable to fulfil his original orders, and with a severely depleted crew, Anson proceeded to circumnavigate the globe as Sir Francis Drake had done before him. Anson's aim was to cause the Spanish as much damage as was still possible and on 20 June the Nuestra Senora de Covadonga was captured along with 1,313,483 pieces of eight and 35,682 ounces of silver. This victory ensured that the Centurion made a triumphant return to England in June 1744.

If you would like to learn more, the Caird Library holds a number of books about George Anson and the Centurion including a transcription of the log kept by Anson's first lieutenant, Philip Saumarez, on the 1740-1744 voyage. Visitors to the museum can even view a log kept during the Centurion's circumnavigation of the globe in the Time and Longitude gallery at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

Richard (Assistant Archivist)