The Historic Journeys of HMS Dolphin
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HMS Dolphin: The First Vessel to Circumnavigate the Globe Twice
HMS Dolphin was a 24-gun frigate that was used primarily as a survey ship. She holds the significant title of being the first vessel to circumnavigate the globe twice. This achievement marked a notable milestone in the maritime history of the British Navy.
Discoveries and Unintended Consequences
HMS Dolphin is also credited with the discovery of Tahiti. The island was noted not only for its natural beauty but also for the islanders’ readiness to trade sex for ironware. This particular form of trade led to what was known as the “nail issue.”
According to the British National Archives, the trade proved to be lucrative in more ways than one. By the time Captain James Cook visited Tahiti several years later, several islanders displayed symptoms linked to syphilis—a grave reminder of the encounters with the sailors of HMS Dolphin.
In this unfortunate twist, the spread of disease among the Tahitians was a lasting impact of the contact between European sailors and the indigenous population, demonstrating the complex legacies of exploration.
By: RBM
