Benjamin Morrell

Benjamin Morrell ( born July 5, 1795 in Rye, Westchester County, New York, † 1839 in Portuguese East Africa ) was an American sailing captain and explorer who undertook 1822-1831 a series of voyages, mainly to the Southern Ocean and the Islands of the Pacific, which were recorded in the dazzling memoir A Narrative of Four Voyages.

He wants to have entered in December 1822 was the first to Bouvet Island. His description of the island is clearly the descriptions Lindsay's and Norris ' removed (→ Thompsoninsel ( South Atlantic ) ).

Morrell's reputation among his colleagues was characterized by his rumored falsehoods and fantasy narratives, which were related to his partially written by a ghostwriter reports, particularly those of his experiences in Antarctica, which are controversial even when geographers and historians. According Burtin R. Pollin said to have been (1784-1842) Morrell Ghostwriter the magazine editor and playwright Samuel Woodworth.

Thus, although perhaps not Morrell is the author of the personal ascribed to him forgeries, it shall nevertheless undoubtedly - tacitly accepted or lent it his name - as apparent authority Woodworth's. The " doctored " contents of his book could not have remained completely hidden from him. The promotional effect of Woodworth's yarn Morrell has thus sacrificed his literary and scientific fame. This is unfortunate, because " ... the truth itself was quite interesting. "

Works

• A narrative of Four Voyages to the South Sea, North and South Pacific Ocean, Chinese Sea, Ethiopic and Southern Atlantic Ocean, Indian and Antarctic Ocean from the Year 1822 to 1831 (Online, English)