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William Dunbar (explorer)
Encyclopedia
William Dunbar was a ScotsAmerican
merchant, naturalist, astronomer and explorer.
William Dunbar was born in Duffus House, Duffus Parish
near Elgin
, Scotland
. His family's roots can be traced back to at least the tenth century. His father, Sir Archibald Dunbar, 4th baronet of Northfield and Duffus, married his cousin Helen Dunbar, with whom he had at least one girl and three boys – Archibald, Robert and Alexander. Helen died in 1748 and in 1750 Anne Bayne became Archibald’s second wife. They had three children – William, Thomas and Peggy. William’s father thought him a sissy and worried about his health, because he was quiet and serious-minded unlike his half-brothers who hunted, fished, and drank. Archibald did not recognise William’s brilliance.
William entered King’s College
in Aberdeen
in the autumn of 1763, and graduated with a Master of Arts
degree on March 30, 1767. After his return to Elgin, William continued his study and research in the natural sciences. The deaths in 1762 of his two eldest half-brothers, Archibald and Robert, brought William from fourth to second in line to inherit the family estates, but William’s father Archibald died in 1769, leaving him only about 500 pounds. His remaining half-brother, Alexander, as the oldest surviving male, inherited the full rights to all of the estates – he became Sir Alexander Dunbar, 5th baronet of Northfield and Duffus. William probably could have expected assistance from his father in making his way in Britain, but not from a half-brother with whom he had never really been close.
In the spring of 1771, William Dunbar sailed from London
to Philadelphia to try his luck in America. He initially became a merchant in Philadelphia, transporting goods he brought with him from London in an effort to enter the Indian trade. In 1773 he formed a partnership with John Ross
, another Scottish merchant from Philadelphia, in the British province of West Florida. He then went to Pensacola and obtained a grant of land near Baton Rouge
, which was at the time called Fort New Richmond
, from the British governor. In 1784 he established, together with Ross, a plantation near Natchez
, Mississippi called The Forest, where he cultivated indigo and cotton. After Ross' death in 1800, he bought out his interest from Ross' heirs. In 1785 he married Dinah Clark from Whitehaven, England, with whom he had nine children. By 1803 Dunbar owned some 4000 acres (16.2 km²) - he also owned "The Grange" and other lots within Natchez given him for his service to the Spanish Government as surveyor. William Dunbar died in The Forest on October 16, 1810.
home and opened it to the public. His plantation home, "The Forest," became a meeting place for scholars; men such as naturalist William Bartram
and ornithologist Alexander Wilson
were frequent guests.
In 1799 Daniel Clark
, US consul for New Orleans, introduced Dunbar to Thomas Jefferson
(then Vice President) through a letter, saying "for Science, Probity & general information [he] is the first Character in this part of the World". Through Jefferson, Dunbar would be introduced to the rest of the American scientific establishment. Dunbar never met Jefferson in person but the two corresponded for many years, and Jefferson asked him to lead the Red River expedition in 1804 and to organize another one in 1806. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society
in 1800 and contributed twelve articles to the Society Transactions on subjects in natural history, astronomy and American Sign Language
. In 1803 Dunbar, with others, established the Mississippi Society for the Acquirement and Dissemination of Useful Knowledge. After returning from the expeditions, and until his death in 1810, he devoted himself to scientific inquiry, gathering a significant collection of data on Indian vocabulary, as well as using chemical analysis in geology, seasonal river levels, fossils, astronomical phenomena, and utilizing a method of finding longitude by astronomical means.
. Jefferson sanctioned four such expeditions altogether: the famous 1804 Lewis and Clark
Corps of Discovery expedition to the northern territory of the Louisiana Purchase, Willam Dunbar's Red River expedition of 1804, the Red River Expedition (1806)
of Thomas Freeman and Peter Custis, and the Zebulon Pike
expedition in 1806-1807.
Jefferson assigned George Hunter
, a prominent Philadelphia chemist and also a Scot, to be second in command to Dunbar. The proposed southern journey was later called the Grand Expedition. The trip was drastically altered due to friction with the Osage Indians and Spanish colonial officials, resulting in a shorter journey.
On October 16, 1804, Dunbar and Hunter set off with a party of 15 on the expedition, which lasted just under three months. They explored the Red River
and the Black and Ouachita
rivers, and brought back a wealth of scientific information, geological surveys, records of flora and fauna as well as the first detailed chemical analysis of the Hot Springs of Arkansas
.
Another expedition preliminarily named the "Great Excursion" was planned by Jefferson in order to continue the exploration of the Red River. Although Dunbar's failing health prevented him from participating in the expedition, he nevertheless was charged by Jefferson with the task of organizing it, together with Secretary of War Henry Dearborn
. Dunbar used his experience from the first Red River expedition to plan this one; among his ideas was to use a boat suited for inland exploration in the trans-Mississippi region. This expedition
was led by astronomer/surveyor Thomas Freeman and medical student Peter Custis, and it reached 615 miles (989.7 km) up the river before being halted by a Spanish military force.
Scottish American
Scottish Americans or Scots Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in Scotland. Scottish Americans are closely related to Scots-Irish Americans, descendants of Ulster Scots, and communities emphasize and celebrate a common heritage...
merchant, naturalist, astronomer and explorer.
Life
Duffus
Duffus is a village in Moray, Scotland, centred on a Mercat Cross. The Duffus Village Inn, along with the local shop, Post Office and Duffus Village Hall provide a focal point for the community. Nearby are the impressive remains of Duffus Castle, St...
near Elgin
Elgin, Moray
Elgin is a former cathedral city and Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. His family's roots can be traced back to at least the tenth century. His father, Sir Archibald Dunbar, 4th baronet of Northfield and Duffus, married his cousin Helen Dunbar, with whom he had at least one girl and three boys – Archibald, Robert and Alexander. Helen died in 1748 and in 1750 Anne Bayne became Archibald’s second wife. They had three children – William, Thomas and Peggy. William’s father thought him a sissy and worried about his health, because he was quiet and serious-minded unlike his half-brothers who hunted, fished, and drank. Archibald did not recognise William’s brilliance.
William entered King’s College
King's College, Aberdeen
King's College in Old Aberdeen, Scotland is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and an integral part of the University of Aberdeen...
in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
in the autumn of 1763, and graduated with a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
degree on March 30, 1767. After his return to Elgin, William continued his study and research in the natural sciences. The deaths in 1762 of his two eldest half-brothers, Archibald and Robert, brought William from fourth to second in line to inherit the family estates, but William’s father Archibald died in 1769, leaving him only about 500 pounds. His remaining half-brother, Alexander, as the oldest surviving male, inherited the full rights to all of the estates – he became Sir Alexander Dunbar, 5th baronet of Northfield and Duffus. William probably could have expected assistance from his father in making his way in Britain, but not from a half-brother with whom he had never really been close.
In the spring of 1771, William Dunbar sailed from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Philadelphia to try his luck in America. He initially became a merchant in Philadelphia, transporting goods he brought with him from London in an effort to enter the Indian trade. In 1773 he formed a partnership with John Ross
John Ross (American patriot)
John Ross was a merchant during the American Revolution.He early relocated to Perth, Scotland, and entered into mercantile pursuits, but in 1763 he came to Philadelphia, where he became a shipping merchant...
, another Scottish merchant from Philadelphia, in the British province of West Florida. He then went to Pensacola and obtained a grant of land near Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
, which was at the time called Fort New Richmond
Fort New Richmond
Fort New Richmond was built by the British in 1779 on the east bank of the Mississippi River in what was later to become Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
, from the British governor. In 1784 he established, together with Ross, a plantation near Natchez
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
, Mississippi called The Forest, where he cultivated indigo and cotton. After Ross' death in 1800, he bought out his interest from Ross' heirs. In 1785 he married Dinah Clark from Whitehaven, England, with whom he had nine children. By 1803 Dunbar owned some 4000 acres (16.2 km²) - he also owned "The Grange" and other lots within Natchez given him for his service to the Spanish Government as surveyor. William Dunbar died in The Forest on October 16, 1810.
Scientific achievements
William Dunbar was known for his engineering and scientific talents, which he employed in plantation work. He invented a screw press and introduced the square baling of cotton, and was the first to suggest the manufacture of cottonseed oil. He was Surveyor General for West Florida in 1798 and made the first meteorological observations in the Mississippi Valley in 1799. Dunbar built an astronomical observatory in Union Hill near his NatchezNatchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
home and opened it to the public. His plantation home, "The Forest," became a meeting place for scholars; men such as naturalist William Bartram
William Bartram
William Bartram was an American naturalist. The son of Ann and John Bartram, William Bartram and his twin sister Elizabeth were born in Kingsessing, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. As a boy, he accompanied his father on many of his travels, to the Catskill Mountains, the New Jersey Pine Barrens,...
and ornithologist Alexander Wilson
Alexander Wilson
Alexander Wilson was a Scottish-American poet, ornithologist, naturalist, and illustrator.Wilson was born in Paisley, Scotland, the son of an illiterate distiller. In 1779 he was apprenticed as a weaver. His main interest at this time was in writing poetry...
were frequent guests.
In 1799 Daniel Clark
Daniel Clark (politician)
Daniel Clark was the first Delegate from the Territory of Orleans to the United States House of Representatives. Born in Sligo, Ireland and educated at Eton College in England, he migrated to the United States in 1786 and settled in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, US consul for New Orleans, introduced Dunbar to Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
(then Vice President) through a letter, saying "for Science, Probity & general information [he] is the first Character in this part of the World". Through Jefferson, Dunbar would be introduced to the rest of the American scientific establishment. Dunbar never met Jefferson in person but the two corresponded for many years, and Jefferson asked him to lead the Red River expedition in 1804 and to organize another one in 1806. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
in 1800 and contributed twelve articles to the Society Transactions on subjects in natural history, astronomy and American Sign Language
American Sign Language
American Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
. In 1803 Dunbar, with others, established the Mississippi Society for the Acquirement and Dissemination of Useful Knowledge. After returning from the expeditions, and until his death in 1810, he devoted himself to scientific inquiry, gathering a significant collection of data on Indian vocabulary, as well as using chemical analysis in geology, seasonal river levels, fossils, astronomical phenomena, and utilizing a method of finding longitude by astronomical means.
Red River expeditions
On March 13, 1804, Thomas Jefferson (who by then was President) wrote to Dunbar, charging him with the task of assembling the first scientific expedition into the lower Louisiana PurchaseLouisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States of America of of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana in 1803. The U.S...
. Jefferson sanctioned four such expeditions altogether: the famous 1804 Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
Corps of Discovery expedition to the northern territory of the Louisiana Purchase, Willam Dunbar's Red River expedition of 1804, the Red River Expedition (1806)
Red River Expedition (1806)
The Red River Expedition, also known as the Freeman-Custis Expedition, Freeman Red River Expedition, Sparks Expedition, or officially as the Exploring Expedition of Red River in 1806, was one of the first civilian scientific expeditions to explore the Southwestern United States...
of Thomas Freeman and Peter Custis, and the Zebulon Pike
Zebulon Pike
Zebulon Montgomery Pike Jr. was an American officer and explorer for whom Pikes Peak in Colorado is named. As a United States Army captain in 1806-1807, he led the Pike Expedition to explore and document the southern portion of the Louisiana Purchase and to find the headwaters of the Red River,...
expedition in 1806-1807.
Jefferson assigned George Hunter
George Hunter
George Hunter may refer to:* George Hunter , Canadian journalistic photographer* George Hunter , businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune bottling Coca-Cola* George Hunter...
, a prominent Philadelphia chemist and also a Scot, to be second in command to Dunbar. The proposed southern journey was later called the Grand Expedition. The trip was drastically altered due to friction with the Osage Indians and Spanish colonial officials, resulting in a shorter journey.
On October 16, 1804, Dunbar and Hunter set off with a party of 15 on the expedition, which lasted just under three months. They explored the Red River
Red River (Mississippi watershed)
The Red River, or sometimes the Red River of the South, is a major tributary of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers in the southern United States of America. The river gains its name from the red-bed country of its watershed. It is one of several rivers with that name...
and the Black and Ouachita
Ouachita River
The Ouachita River is a river that runs south and east through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Louisiana, joining the Tensas River to form the Black River near Jonesville, Louisiana.-Course:...
rivers, and brought back a wealth of scientific information, geological surveys, records of flora and fauna as well as the first detailed chemical analysis of the Hot Springs of Arkansas
Hot Springs National Park
Established from Hot Springs Reservation, Hot Springs National Park is a United States National Park in central Arkansas adjacent to the city of Hot Springs. Hot Springs Reservation was initially created by an act of the United States Congress on April 20, 1832, and the area was made a national...
.
Another expedition preliminarily named the "Great Excursion" was planned by Jefferson in order to continue the exploration of the Red River. Although Dunbar's failing health prevented him from participating in the expedition, he nevertheless was charged by Jefferson with the task of organizing it, together with Secretary of War Henry Dearborn
Henry Dearborn
Henry Dearborn was an American physician, a statesman and a veteran of both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Born to Simon Dearborn and Sarah Marston in North Hampton, New Hampshire, he spent much of his youth in Epping, where he attended public schools...
. Dunbar used his experience from the first Red River expedition to plan this one; among his ideas was to use a boat suited for inland exploration in the trans-Mississippi region. This expedition
Red River Expedition (1806)
The Red River Expedition, also known as the Freeman-Custis Expedition, Freeman Red River Expedition, Sparks Expedition, or officially as the Exploring Expedition of Red River in 1806, was one of the first civilian scientific expeditions to explore the Southwestern United States...
was led by astronomer/surveyor Thomas Freeman and medical student Peter Custis, and it reached 615 miles (989.7 km) up the river before being halted by a Spanish military force.