John Cunningham (explorer)

John Cunningham (* 1575, † 1651; Danish Hans Koning ) was a Scottish polar explorer and discoverer.

Expedition to Greenland in 1605

Cunningham served as a captain in 1603 Serves the Danish Navy. Denmark since 1410 had no contact with the settlements of Greenland Grænlendingar on more and although several expeditions were already under Frederick II had been sent there, it was not able to land on Greenland. In contrast, English captains such as Martin Frobisher and John Davis had made ​​in the Arctic at the end of the 16th century, successful trips.

Christian IV wanted to make the claim of the Danish crown on Greenland contends that what it was, however, necessary to recover the settlements of the Northmen. He has therefore hired sailors from the British Isles for a total of three expeditions from 1605 to 1607. Cunningham was selected as the leader of the first expedition. The expedition consisted of three ships: Cunningham sailed with his helmsman James Hall on board the consolation, the Englishman John Knight was captain of the pinnace Katten ( " cat " ) and the Danish nobles Godske Lindenow commanded the Røde Lowen ( "Red Lion "). Hall, Knightsbridge and Lindenow introduced himself later trips to the polar region.

On 2 May 1605 the fleet put to sea. On May 30, Cape Farewell, was the southernmost point of Greenland happens. Then, it struck Halls advice, a course at a large distance from the west coast of Greenland, a, on the one met on a dense pack ice. Since this was not the traditional trade route to the northern settlements, was kindled in the following a dispute between Hall and Lindenow. Lindenow feared that they would thus miss the settlements, and decided on June 11, alone with the Røde Lowen towards the coast to sail. How Hall, however, had foreseen it, Lindenow could not land at the local bank, but he first had to go far back to the south, until he (probably near the present-day Qeqertarsuatsiaat ) could go ashore 62-63 degrees latitude. There he met Inuit, of which he bought furs, walrus and Narwalhörner. Since he could not reach further, he decided to return and was in Copenhagen on 28 July at.

The comfort and Katten, however, landed on June 12 at 66 ° 30'N in Itivdleqfjord in which Davis had already anchored in 1586. While Cunningham remained on the comfort, drove his helmsman on June 20 with the Katten further north. During this trip, Hall created four maps, including the first map of West Greenland. He probably reached 68 ° 35'N and saw the first European to the southern branch of the Disko Bay. There, the group collected rock samples, the later studies show that contained silver. Hall wanted to continue the journey even further, but was swayed by his crew, the befürchetete that consolation would do without her on the journey home. On July 11, they met again in a Itivdleqfjord in the consolation.

Meanwhile, the initially good relations with the Inuit had deteriorated dramatically after Cunningham had captured four of them. The Inuit then attacked the ships, but were expelled by cannon fire. The expedition set out on the return journey and reached Copenhagen on August 10 in 1605.

Other years

Christian IV was pleased with the results of the expedition and agreed to the following year to finance a larger expedition to Greenland. It should be particularly sought after extensive silver deposits. In this expedition Cunningham, however, was lowered by the head of the captain of the Røde Lowen and Lindenow given command. Both these and a further 1607 held Expedition, no longer participated in the Cunningham, however, turned out to be a failure.

Cunningham remained until his death in the service of the Danish crown. In 1615 he led an expedition to Spitsbergen, which should underpin the Danish claim to it. At that time it was assumed that Spitsbergen was part of Greenland. However, the mainly English and Dutch whalers there ignored his fleet.

1619 Cunningham was appointed in the north of Norway to the governor of the province of Finnmark and was stationed in Vardo. He held until shortly before his death this post.

Swell

  • William J. Mills. Exploring Polar Frontiers: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC - Clio, Santa Barbara, 2003, pp. 287 et seq ISBN 978-1576074220
  • Entry in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
  • Discoverer (17th century)
  • Seafarer
  • Polar explorer (Arctic)
  • Scotsman
  • Born in 1575
  • Died in 1651
  • Man
John Davis (English explorer) Cape Farewell, Greenland
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