Challenger expedition
1872 CE to 1876 CE
The Challenger expedition of 1872–76 is a scientific exercise that makes many discoveries to lay the foundation of oceanography.
The expedition is named after the mother vessel, HMS Challenger.Prompted by the Scot, Charles Wyville Thomson—of the University of Edinburgh and Merchiston Castle School—the Royal Society of London obtains the use of Challenger from the Royal Navy and in 1872 modifies the ship for scientific work, equipping her with separate laboratories for natural history and chemistry.
The expedition, led by Captain George Nares, sails from Portsmouth, England, on December 21 1872.
Other naval officers include Commander John Maclear.
Under the scientific supervision of Thomson himself, she travels nearly 70,000 nautical miles (130,000 km) surveying and exploring.
The result is the Report Of The Scientific Results of the Exploring Voyage of H.M.S.
Challenger during the years 1873-76 which, among many other discoveries, catalogues over 4,000 previously unknown species.
John Murray, who supervises the publication, describes the report as "the greatest advance in the knowledge of our planet since the celebrated discoveries of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries".
Challenger sails close to Antarctica, but not within sight of it.
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