The Voyage of Commodore Anson Round the World
August 2019
George Anson’s famous voyage around the world, perhaps the greatest example of perseverance in the face of adversity in naval history, began in September of 1740 and ended in 1744. In 1748, an account of this incredible voyage—A Voyage Round the World, In the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV., by George Anson, Esq., Commander in Chief of a Squadron of His Majesty’s Ships, sent upon an Expedition to the South-Seas—compiled from his personal papers and subscribed to by hundreds of gentlemen across England, was published under his direction by one Richard Walter, M. A. It’s a fascinating account but rather long and torturously detailed—it takes twelve pages just to list the subscribers and a whole chapter to list the equipment acquired by the fleet before setting sail. It’s a tough slog for readers who just want the meat of the story.
In 1825, seventy seven years after the original account was published (and presumably after any danger of violating the Anson or Walter family’s copyrights had expired), this anonymously-authored, condensed version—The Voyage of Commodore Anson Round the World—was published in Ireland. Avoiding tedious lists of subscribers, men, and equipment, this shorter book tells the same fascinating story in less than a quarter the space.
In 1825, seventy seven years after the original account was published (and presumably after any danger of violating the Anson or Walter family’s copyrights had expired), this anonymously-authored, condensed version—The Voyage of Commodore Anson Round the World—was published in Ireland. Avoiding tedious lists of subscribers, men, and equipment, this shorter book tells the same fascinating story in less than a quarter the space.