Erskine, John Elphinstone, 1805-1887

Captain of HMS `Havannah' from Sheerness to Hamoaze, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, New Hebrides and other islands and New Zealand. Published `Journal of a cruise among the islands of the Western Pacific...' (1953). Uncle of James Elphinstone Erskine (1838-1911) [Source: Australian Dictionary of Biography Online]

There are 4 related items to this topic
Image

Artist unknown :Der Neuseelandische Kiwi in den Garten der Zoologischen Gesellschaft (R...

Date: 1851 - 1852

By: Webster, Kenneth Athol, 1906-1967

Reference: A-015-026

Description: A standing kiwi, facing the viewer, its head lowered Based on a wood engraving in the Illustrated London News, Dec 27, 1851 p. 765. A clipping of the English language version is held in John Pearse's Album, E-455-f-056-07 This kiwi was brought to London by Captain Erskine of H. M. S. Havannah, having been procured by Lieutenant-Governor Eyre. Other Titles - The New Zealand kiwi in the garden of the Zoological Society, (Regent's Park) in London. Apteryx in the gardens of the Zoological Society ... Quantity: 1 b&w art print(s). Physical Description: Wood engraving, 173 x 163 mm

Manuscript

Papers relating to Kew collectors and official correspondence

Date: 1825-1865

From: Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew) : Records

Reference: Micro-MS-Coll-10-02

Description: (1) Journal of B C Seeman, 1846-1847, 1849. Also, selected papers on other collectors. (2) Official correspondence to Sir William Hooker, consisting of selections from Vols I to LXXII, and belonging to Series 2 - Official correspondence. Quantity: 1 microfilm reel(s).

Manuscript

Admirals' despatches - Pacific (ADM 1/ 5604-5619)

Date: 1849-1850

From: United Kingdom. Admiralty : Records relating to the Pacific

Reference: Micro-MS-Coll-05-3303

Description: Quantity: 1 microfilm reel(s).

Online Manuscript

Log of the proceedings of HMS Havannah

Date: 28 Feb 1848-18 Dec 1851

By: Havannah HMS (Ship)

Reference: MSY-4239

Description: Comprises the log of HMS `Havannah' under Capt J E Erskine in which is recorded weather, the position of the ship, the wind, sailing direction, sails set, activities at certain times of the day and other aspects of shipboard life, especially maintenance. The voyage began in Sheerness via Lisbon, Madeira, Trinidad, Cape of Good Hope, St Paul's Island, Cape Otway, Australia (Farm Cove) to New Zealand, passing Three Kings Island to Auckland and sailing via Cape Runaway to Port Nicholson. From there the log records sailing for Sydney, Ports Phillip and Arthur, Hobart Town, often returning to ports already visited, back to NZ (Auckland, Bay of Islands), Savage Island, Samoa, Tonga and other locations not noted. The ship returned to both Australia and New Zealand again, and spent long periods at Farm Cove towards the end of the expedition. Source of title - Transcribed Further journals on board the `Havannah' were kept by Vigors (at qMS-2081 (original), qMS-2082-2084 (transcribed) and MS-Copy-Micro-0060); and by Henry Gabriel Swainson at MS-2096-2097, which also has his letters to his sister, and (MS-Copy-Micro-0172) The log has been recorded by several people, one of whom is thought to be a midshipman or crew member whose occupations included rigging marks, mats, washing clothes, painting the ship's side, mending sails and holding divine service. The voyage was notable for Erskine's discovery of the Torres Islands. Quantity: 1 volume(s) (420 pages numbered as 210 leaves). 0.04 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss (34 cm, ½ red morocco, marbled boards) Processing information: Access statement changed from "Partly restricted - Digital content available only in Katherine Mansfield Reading Room" to "Partly restricted - Please use surrogate in place of original" on 26 October 2022.