Wilkes, Charles

Charles (1801-1877), an American sailor and scientist. He was born in New York City and died in Washington, D. C. Young Wilkes entered the navy as a midshipman in 1817. He saw service in the Mediterranean and on the Pacific. In 1826 he received an appointment as lieutenant in the navy.

During the years 1838-1842 he commanded an exploring expedition, the first scientific expedition ever fitted out by our national government. The expedition spent five years abroad. Various points on the coast of South America, Samoa, the Fiji Islands, Hawaii, the Antarctic regions, and the west coast of North America were visited. Soundings were taken and a vast amount of scientific material and information was collected. Wilkes wrote a narrative of his expedition which appeared in six volumes in 1845. When the Civil War broke out, Wilkes, in command of the San Jacinto, intercepted the British steamer Trent and took off Messrs. Mason and Slidell, Confederate commissioners to the government of England. See Trent Affair