John Gore RN (abt. 1730 - 1790)

Born about 1730 in Middlesex Co., Virginia

Descendants

Died 10 Sep 1790 at about age 60 in Greenwich Hospital, Kent, England

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Biography

Captain John Gore RN is thought to have been born about 1730 at Virginia when it was a British Colony (now a state of the USA).

John was third Llieutenant on HMS Endeavour (second lieutenant from the time of Hick's death) and a lieutenant, then captain, on HMS Resolution on the 1st and 3rd voyages, respectively, commanded by James Cook around the Pacific Ocean.

On the third voyage, Captain Cook was killed in Hawaii and second in command, Lieutenant Charles Clerke died from illness six months later. It fell upon John Gore to command the two ships HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery safely back to England, which he did in 1780. He was promoted to Captain upon that successful return.

Captain John Gore, a most experienced seaman, was an honour to his profession. He had sailed four times around the world; first with Wallis (1764-66); second with Byron (1766-67); and twice with James Cook (1768-71 and 1779-80).

John passed away on 10th August 1790 at Greenwich Hospital. His widow, Ann, received a government pension from the time of his death.

His son John (1774-1853) became a Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy and migrated to the Colony of New South Wales.

Gore Point and the Gore Peninsula in the Alaskan Kenai fjords were named for John Gore by Captain Nathaniel Portlock, a fellow veteran of Cook's third voyage who explored the Pacific Northwest of America in the late 18th century. There are also several Australian and New Zealand sites named after John Gore.

Sources

• Captain Cook Society - Crew List.
• Cook's Journal. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Captain_Cook%27s_Journal_During_His_First_Voyage_Round_the_World/List_of_Persons_who_left_England_in_H.M.S._Endeavour
• The Men who sailed with Capt. James Cook.
• Wikipedia profile: John Gore; accessed 3 May 2020.