Chatham Islands (British Columbia)
Encyclopedia
The Chatham Islands are a group of island
s off the east coast of Oak Bay, British Columbia
, Canada
. All of the islands are in Chatham Islands Indian Reserve No. 4, under the control of the Songhees First Nation
.
The Chatham Islands were named in 1846 by surveyors in honour of HMS Chatham
, the escort ship of HMS Discovery
, the ship of 18th-century British Explorer Captain George Vancouver
on his voyage to chart the coastline of British Columbia
between 1792 and 1794 (the Vancouver Expedition
). The adjacent Discovery Island was named after the Discovery.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s off the east coast of Oak Bay, British Columbia
Oak Bay, British Columbia
Oak Bay is a municipality located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in the Canadian Province of British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of the Capital Regional District, it is a community east of and adjacent to the City of Victoria...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. All of the islands are in Chatham Islands Indian Reserve No. 4, under the control of the Songhees First Nation
Songhees First Nation
The Songhees First Nation is a First Nations government on located around Victoria, British Columbia on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.-External links:*...
.
The Chatham Islands were named in 1846 by surveyors in honour of HMS Chatham
HMS Chatham (1788)
HMS Chatham was a Royal Navy survey brig that accompanied HMS Discovery on George Vancouver's exploration of the west coast of North America in his 1791–1795 expedition. Chatham was built by King, of Dover and launched in early 1788...
, the escort ship of HMS Discovery
HMS Discovery (1789)
HMS Discovery was a Royal Navy ship launched in 1789 and best known as the lead ship in George Vancouver's exploration of the west coast of North America in his famous 1791-1795 expedition. She was converted to a bomb vessel in 1798 and participated in the Battle of Copenhagen. Thereafter she...
, the ship of 18th-century British Explorer Captain George Vancouver
George Vancouver
Captain George Vancouver RN was an English officer of the British Royal Navy, best known for his 1791-95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon...
on his voyage to chart the coastline of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
between 1792 and 1794 (the Vancouver Expedition
Vancouver Expedition
The Vancouver Expedition was a four-and-a-half-year voyage of exploration and diplomacy, commanded by Captain George Vancouver. The expedition circumnavigated the globe, touched five continents and changed the course of history for the indigenous nations and several European empires and their...
). The adjacent Discovery Island was named after the Discovery.