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What was John Davis famous for?

What was John Davis famous for?

John Davis ( c. 1550 – 29 December 1605) was one of the chief navigators of Queen Elizabeth I of England. He led several voyages to discover the Northwest Passage and served as pilot and captain on both Dutch and English voyages to the East Indies. He discovered the Falkland Islands in August 1592.

Why is John Davis important to Canada?

Davis explored the strait named for him and the east coast of present-day Baffin Island. He was later credited as the first European to sight the Falkland Islands, as they are now called. He contributed to European knowledge of the Arctic and its inhabitants, and invented the backstaff navigational instrument.

Who did John Davis work for?

From 1598 to 1600 he served with distinction as pilot to the second Dutch expedition to the Indies, and on his return to London was appointed chief pilot to the highly successful first expedition of the East India Company.

Who was the Davis Strait named after?

John Davis
The strait is named for John Davis, an English navigator who explored the region over three voyages (1585–87) that were undertaken in an effort to establish a northern sea route to the Pacific.

Who was John Davis and what did he do?

John Davis. John Davis (also spelled Davys), explorer, navigator (born ca. 1550 near Dartmouth, England; died 27 December 1605 off Bintan Island, near Singapore). Davis made it his life’s work to become the first European to find and travel the Northwest Passage, launching three failed expeditions between 1585 and 1587.

When did John Davis make contact with the Inuit?

Davis left Dartmouth with two ships in June 1585, returning on 30 September. It was during this expedition that Davis first made contact with the Inuit. He also crossed the southern part of what subsequently became known as Davis Strait and reached the east coast of present-day Baffin Island during this voyage.

Where did John Davis sail to in Greenland?

Davis was successful in reaching about 73° north along the Greenland coast (Hope Sanderson), and then sailed west before turning south along the Baffin Island coast. He noted the entrances to what became known as Frobisher Bay and Hudson Strait.

When did John Davis return to the Arctic?

John Davis returned to the Arctic in 1586 and again in 1587. During his second expedition, Davis piloted a fleet of four ships: the Sunneshine, the Mooneshine, the Mermayde and the North Starre. While attempting to locate a passage between Greenland and Iceland, the North Starre was lost.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHPKWjTmDEU