Anson Archipelago
Encyclopedia
The Anson Archipelago was a designation for a widely scattered group of purported islands in the Western North Pacific Ocean between Japan
and Hawaii
. The group included Wake Island
and Marcus Island, as well as many phantom islands such as Los Jardines
, Ganges Island, Roca de Oro, and Roca de Plata.
The Archipelago was named after George Anson
, who seized Spanish navigational charts of these waters during his voyage around the world
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. The group included Wake Island
Wake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
and Marcus Island, as well as many phantom islands such as Los Jardines
Los Jardines
Two phantom islands located east of the Marshall Islands, visited by Alavaro de Saavedra in 1528 and by Ruy López de Villalobos in 1542.-See also:* 1932 German map showing Los Jardines northeast of the Marianas, northwest of the Marshalls...
, Ganges Island, Roca de Oro, and Roca de Plata.
The Archipelago was named after George Anson
George Anson, 1st Baron Anson
Admiral of the Fleet George Anson, 1st Baron Anson PC, FRS, RN was a British admiral and a wealthy aristocrat, noted for his circumnavigation of the globe and his role overseeing the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War...
, who seized Spanish navigational charts of these waters during his voyage around the world
George Anson's voyage around the world
While Great Britain was at war with Spain in 1740, Commodore George Anson led a squadron of eight ships on a mission to disrupt or capture Spain's Pacific possessions...
.