A Voyage Round the World

On September 18, 1740, during the Anglo-Spanish conflict known later as the War of Jenkins’ Ear, a squadron of eight ships under the command of Commodore George Anson set sail from England with the aim of attacking Spanish colonies and shipping in South America. The voyage suffered many setbacks, including terrible weather and outbreaks of scurvy, but after nearly four years of adventure Anson’s flagship, though undermanned and horribly battered, managed to complete its circumnavigation of the globe and returned to England safely. The rest of Anson’s squadron was not so lucky, however, and during the voyage hundreds of crew members lost their lives and all of the other ships either turned back or were wrecked. Despite these hardships and tragedies the voyage was seen as a tremendous achievement, in part because in 1743 Anson had managed to capture a Spanish treasure galleon laden with huge amounts of coin and silver. Anson’s chaplain on the voyage, Richard Walter, instigated a project to record the circumnavigation, resulting in the publishing of this work in 1748. The story of Anson’s voyage is as interesting and entertaining as it is incredible. The blow-by-blow account of the journey created a storm in Britain when it was published and is tremendously exciting and moving. Its action and immediacy makes for an enthralling, engrossing and inspirational read.