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16. BYRON
John. The Narrative of the Honourable John Byron (Commodore in a late Expedition round the World)
16. BYRON
John. The Narrative of the Honourable John Byron (Commodore in a late Expedition round the World)

Lot 16. BYRON, John.

The Narrative of the Honourable John Byron (Commodore in a late Expedition round the World),

£1000 - £1500

The Narrative of the Honourable John Byron (Commodore in a late Expedition round the World), 98328
containing an Account of the great Distresses suffered by himself and his Companions on the Coast of Patagonia, from the Year 1740, till their Arrival in England, 1746. With a Description of St. Jago de Chili, and the Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants. Also a Relation of the Loss of the Wager, Man of War, one of Admiral Anson’s squadron. Written by himself, and now first published. [With] SUTHERLAND, James. A Narrative of the Loss of His Majesty’s Ship The Litchfield…
London, printed for S. Baker and G. Leigh, in York-Street; and T. Davies, in Russel-Street, Covent-Garden, 1768

‘Byron was a midshipman aboard the Wager, which was wrecked on an island off the Chilean coast. He describes the privations endured by the survivors who remained with Captain David Cheap. They were made prisoners by the Indians and turned over to the Spanish authorities. This narrative supplied his grandson, the poet Lord Byron, with many particulars for the shipwreck in Canto II of Don Juan. Byron, known as Foul-Weather Jack, commanded a voyage around the world in the Dolphin from 1764 to 1766. He was later governor of Newfoundland and became an Admiral in 1775’ (Hill). Bound at the end of this volume is a copy of James Sutherland’s A Narrative of the Loss of His Majesty’s Ship The Litchfield, Captain Barton, on the Coast of Africa… A new edition, London, 1768. [iv], 80pp. This is a scarce little work in any edition.

First edition. 8vo, [4], viii, 257, [1]pp., frontispiece, contemporary mottled calf gilt, light wear to corners, a fine fresh example.

[Hill p41; Sabin 9730.]