British Historical Archive
V.A. ROBERT FITZ-R0Y, R.N., F.R.S. (1805-1865).
Robert Fitz-Roy es nieto del Duque de Grafton y sobrino de Lord Castlereagh; nace el 5 de julio de 1805. en Hampton Road, Suffolk. a los 6 años fallece su madre y es enviado a un internado cerca de Brighton. A los 12 años ingresa al Royal Naval College en Portsmouth, donde obtiene notas sobresalientes, el premio de matemáticas y el primer puesto de su promoción. Se embarca a los catorce años en el Owen Glendower, a Sudamérica, ascendiendo a Guardiamarina un año más tarde. Después de prestar servicios en el Mediterráneo, el Canal de la Mancha y Sudamérica, asciende a Teniente a los 19 años, el primero entre 27 de su promoción. En el HMS Thetis cumple comisiones al Mediterráneo y Sudamérica, para finalmente ser nombrado Ayudante de Ordenes del Comandante en Jefe de la Estación Naval sudamericana, Almirante Ottway, en Río de Janeiro.
La independencia de las colonias sudamericanas, en las primeras décadas del siglo XIX, abre a Europa grandes horizontes para el comercio con las nuevas naciones. Oportunidad que Inglaterra se dispone a aprovechar, gracias a su gran capacidad naviera y mercantil. En la búsqueda de rutas seguras para la navegación por el litoral, desde la ribera sur del Río de la Plata hasta Chiloé, incluyendo los pasos interoceánicos por el Cabo de Hornos y el Estrecho de Magallanes, en 1826 es enviada la primera expedición, liderada por el Capitán Philip Parker King, con el cometido de elaborar cartas hidrográficas y geográficas de estas costas. El joven y aristócrata marino, Robert Fitz-Roy, forma parte de esta misión, a bordo de la nave Beagle, de la cual es nombrado comandante en 1828.
Robert FitzRoy was born at Ampton Hall, Suffolk, England, on 5 July 1805. Through both parents he was connected with the upper echelons of the aristocracy.
From the age of four, FitzRoy lived at Wakefield Lodge, the Palladian-style mansion of the Grafton family in Northamptonshire. In February 1818, when he was almost 13, he entered the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth. He entered the Royal Navy in 1819, moved through the ranks of college volunteer and midshipman and was promoted lieutenant on 7 September 1824. At the naval college he had completed a 20 month course, which included mathematics, Classics, history, geography, English, French, drawing, navigation, fencing and dancing, with great distinction. On leaving the naval college, he had been awarded first medal, and in 1824 passed his examination for promotion to lieutenant with 'full numbers', a result that had not been achieved before.
From his first ship, the Thetis , FitzRoy was appointed in August 1828 to the Ganges as flag lieutenant to Rear Admiral Sir Robert Otway, commander in chief of the South American station. Three months later FitzRoy was given his first command, the Beagle , which was carrying out the survey of the coasts of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and the Straits of Magellan. After returning to London in 1830, the Beagle was assigned to continue this survey and left England in December 1831, carrying the young Charles Darwin as naturalist. On this second voyage FitzRoy visited the Cape Verde Islands, the South American Coast, the Strait of Magellan, the Galapagos Islands, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, the Maldives, and Mauritius before returning to England. The voyages of the Beagle established FitzRoy as an excellent navigator, a sound surveyor and a man of science. He was the first to record much of the language of the Fuegians and was partly responsible for the establishment of the first, unsuccessful, Fuegian mission. He had formed and expressed views on the government of native peoples.
The Beagle returned to England in October 1836. In 1839 the three volume Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle between the years 1826 and 1836 was published, FitzRoy being largely responsible as editor and author for the first two volumes, Darwin for the third. In 1837 FitzRoy was awarded a gold medal, known as the Premium medal, by the Royal Geographical Society.
Probably on 8 December 1836 Robert FitzRoy married Mary Henrietta O'Brien, daughter of Major General Edward James O'Brien; they had three daughters and one son. On 22 April 1854 in London, after the death of his first wife, Robert FitzRoy married Maria Isabella Smyth, daughter of a FitzRoy cousin; they had one daughter.
FitzRoy began a brief parliamentary career in 1841, as the Tory member for Durham. But on 7 April 1843 he was appointed governor of New Zealand but was dismissed in 1846 largely because he contended that Maori land claims were as valid as those of the white settlers.
In September 1848 FitzRoy was appointed acting superintendent of the Woolwich dockyard, and in March 1849 was given his final sea command, the screw frigate Arrogant , which he had himself fitted out for sea trials. After retiring from active service in 1850, FitzRoy was briefly, in 1853, private secretary to his uncle by marriage, Lord Hardinge, commander in chief of the army. Probably the event that gave FitzRoy the greatest personal satisfaction was his election as a fellow of the Royal Society in 1851, supported by 13 fellows, including Charles Darwin. By seniority he was promoted rear admiral in 1857, and vice admiral in 1863.
In 1854 FitzRoy became the head of the British Meteorological Department where he was a pioneer of weather forecasting. He also pioneered the printing of a daily weather forecast in newspapers. FitzRoy virtually invented the term 'forecasting' and did much to initiate the wide-ranging processes of a weather bureau, to the great benefit of those on land and sea alike. He devised a storm warning system that was the prototype of the daily weather forecast. He invented a cheap and serviceable barometer, named after him. He was undoubtedly overtaxed physically and mentally (his staff numbered but three), and during severe mental depression took his own life on 30 April 1865 at Lyndhurst House, Upper Norwood, Surrey, England.
On his death it was necessary, according to Darwin, for his friends to pay off his debts, many of which had been incurred in service to his country. His widow was given the use of a grace-and-favour residence by Queen Victoria. His achievements were considerable. His command of the Beagle and the excellence of the survey from the Equator to Cape Horn and up the eastern side of South America alone would have assured him a place in history, as would his pioneering work in meteorology. In New Zealand his determination that the Maori should be treated with fairness and justice, while European settlers should discover their new life in peace and harmony, constituted a major contribution to the life of the new colony. That he had less ostensible success as governor was the result of Colonial Office policy rather than of his own shortcomings.
Bicentenario del Vicealmirante Robert FitzRoy, R.N. (1805-1865).
Al señor Carlos González Macaya, Archivo Histórico Británico de Punta Arenas.
9-1-2009
Estimado don Carlos:
Para su conocimiento, y de acuerdo a lo ofrecido en nota anteriormente enviada, transcribo a continuación la información de la referencia, con énfasis en los homenajes efectuados en Chile, entre junio de 2005 y enero de 2006, a la memoria del
Vicealmirante británico Robert FitzRoy, R.N., F.R.S. (1805-1865).
La figura y obra de este ilustre marino e hidrógrafo, constituye una de las más señaladas expresiones del patrimonio cultural y marítimo del austro chileno, en especial de la comuna de Cabo de Hornos.
En caso de requerir mayor información e imágenes de las placas conmemorativas y de las correspondientes ceremonias de entrega, en alta resolución, puedo remitírselas con mucho gusto.
Asimismo, el archivo adjunto a ésta contiene los respectivos textos de dichas placas y una fotografía del monolito erigido por la concesionaria de Wulaia en memoria de Robert FitzRoy (créditos de la imagen: Cruceros Australis).
El señor Presidente del Instituto de Conmemoración Histórica de Chile, don Sergio Martínez Baeza, mucho agradecerá al Archivo Histórico Británico de Punta Arenas dar la divulgación que estime conveniente a este material, al tiempo que me encarga decirle que oportunamente le enviará los Anuarios correspondientes.
Sin otro particular, lo saluda atentamente.
Jorge Mery García
Ex coordinador de los homenajes al VA. FitzRoy en su bicentenario
Por encargo del Sr. Presidente del Instituto de Conmemoración Histórica de Chile
Londres 65, Santiago-Centro. Tel. 2-638.24.89
EL BICENTENARIO DEL VICEALMIRANTE ROBERT FITZROY, R.N.,F.R.S. (1805-1865).
Esta recordación casi con seguridad tuvo en Chile los más importantes homenajes de cuantos se organizaron con ocasión de los 200 años del nacimiento de este gran marino e hidrógrafo, quien al mando de la "HMS Beagle" efectuó una invaluable contribución al conocimiento de la zona austral de Chile, su mar, costas y aguas interiores de la Patagonia , la Tierra del Fuego y el archipélago del Cabo de Hornos, inestimables preseas del patrimonio físico y espiritual de la Nación Chilena.
Es así como durante el año 2005 el Instituto de Conmemoración Histórica de Chile y la Sociedad Chilena de Historia y Geografía, unidos a la Universidad de Magallanes, la Universidad Marítima , la Liga Marítima , la Corporación del Patrimonio Cultural de Chile, la Academia de Historia Naval y Marítima, la Cofradía de los Capitanes del Cabo de Hornos y la Corporación del Patrimonio Marítimo de Chile efectuaron una serie de homenajes en su memoria, los que concluyeron con la entrega, por parte del Instituto y la Sociedad , de sendas tres placas conmemorativas para su respectiva instalación en los siguientes lugares de la comuna de Cabo de Hornos, dada su especial vinculación con la figura y obra del homenajeado. A saber:
1.- Museo Antropológico Martín Gusinde de Puerto Williams (DIBAM):
Entidades donantes: Instituto de Conmemoración Histórica de Chile y Sociedad Chilena de Historia y Geografía.
Entidades copatrocinantes: Academia de Historia Naval y Marítima de Chile y Corporación del Patrimonio Cultural de Chile.
La instalación e inauguración de esta placa, la más importante de las tres por cuanto constituye un homenaje a la obra del hidrógrafo y por estar en definitiva destinada a la ciudad de Puerto Williams, aún está pendiente.
2.- Isla Hornos:
Entidades donantes: Instituto de Conmemoración Histórica de Chile y Sociedad Chilena de Historia y Geografía.
Entidades copatrocinantes: Cofradía de los Capitanes del Cabo de Hornos de Chile y Corporación del Patrimonio Marítimo de Chile.
Inaugurada el 29 de octubre de 2006 por el Comandante en Jefe de la Armada (cf. http://www.caphorniers.cl/obrasIslaHornos/obrasIslaHornos.htm).
3.- Caleta Wulaia:
Entidades donantes: Instituto de Conmemoración Histórica de Chile y Sociedad Chilena de Historia y Geografía.
Entidades copatrocinantes: Universidad de Magallanes y Liga Marítima de Chile.
Instalada e inaugurada por Cruceros Australis en noviembre de 2007.
El detalle de la precedente información es el siguiente.
I.- BICENTENARIO DE ROBERT FITZROY EN CHILE.
1.- PLACAS CONMEMORATIVAS:
1.1.- PLACA CONMEMORATIVA ENTREGADA A LA DIBAM (PARA MUSEO MARTÍN GUSINDE DE PTO. WILLIAMS):
http://www.dibam.cl/noticias.asp?id=3840
Noticia: http://www.armada.cl/p4_armada/site/artic/20051228/pags/20051228154532.html
1.2.- PLACA CONMEMORATIVA ENTREGADA A LA ARMADA DE CHILE (PARA EL CABO DE HORNOS):
http://www.armada.cl/p4_armada/site/artic/20060111/pags/20060111144221.html
Imagen en línea: http://www.panoramio.com/ photo/11582295
1.3.- PLACA ENTREGADA A TRANSPORTES MARÍTIMOS TERRA AUSTRALIS S.A. (PARA CALETA WULAIA):
http://www.armada.cl/p4_armada/site/artic/20060118/pags/20060118153434.html
Imagen del morro y monolito FitzRoy: http://picasaweb.google.com/ Jeansview/Patagonia# 5176528680106006834
Imagen de la placa FitzRoy al 25.11.08 : http://www.flickr.com/photos/ 52365038@N00/3060447320/
2.- NOTICIA PUBLICADA 19.01.2006 POR LA EMBAJADA BRITÁNICA EN CHILE:
http://ukinchile.fco.gov.uk/es/newsroom/?view=News&id=1963270
3.- ARTÍCULO PUBLICADO EN NUESTRO.CL, PORTAL DEL PATRIMONIO CULTURAL CHILENO, EN FEBRERO DE 2006:
http://www.nuestro.cl/notas/rescate/fitz_roy1.htm
4.- PUBLICACIONES:
4.1.- "El vicealmirante Robert Fitz-Roy". Artículo del Contralmirante Roberto Benavente Mercado. Revista Mar. Enlace: http://www.ligamar.cl/revis6/41.htm
4.2.- "La estela de un marino". Artículo del Vicealmirante Juan Carlos Toledo de la Maza. Revista Universitaria. Nº 95. Año 2007. pp. 13-17. Enlace: http://www.uc.cl/ru/101/
II.- BICENTENARIO NATALICIO DEL VICEALMIRANTE ROBERT FITZROY (1805-1865) EN INGLATERRA.
Nº 1.- LINK NOTICIA DE 'SEA BRITAIN 2005' Y DEL 'METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE' .
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2005/pr20050705.html
Nota: Sea Britain 2005 es un programa anual especial de celebraciones en homenaje al bicentenario de Trafalgar, con el objeto de fomentar la conciencia marítima de los británicos. Director: Stephen Riley, a su vez, Director de Patrimonio Marítimo de The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
Celebrating the 'father of the weather forecast'
5 July 2005
The 200th anniversary of the birth of the Met Office's founding father, Admiral Robert FitzRoy, is being celebrated today with a special memorial.
In 1854 FitzRoy was chosen to head up a new, experimental department within the Board of Trade - that department was the meteorological department, the forerunner to the Met Office. Through determination and innovation FitzRoy changed the face of meteorology - pioneering printed weather forecasts, inventing a barometer and playing a pivotal role in the development of storm warnings.
At 4 p.m. today, at the Church of All Saints with St Margaret, Church Road, Upper Norwood, south London, there will be a gathering around the grave of Admiral FitzRoy to honour his memory on the bicentenary of his birth.
The event is part of SeaBritain 2005, a year-long celebration of the sea led by the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
Nº 2- NOTICIA EN PORTAL DE 'THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY' :
Enlace: http://www.rmets.org/news/detail.php?ID=125
Admiral FitzRoy Memorial
Info:Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy, the first director of the Meteorological Office, was born on 5 July 1805. Two hundred years later to the day, there was a gathering around his grave outside the Church of All Saints with St Margaret, Upper Norwood, London SE19. Thirty people attended, including representatives of the Met Office, the Royal Meteorological Society, the Norwood Society and the Friends of All Saints' Church, Upper Norwood. The latter two organizations have assumed responsibility for care and maintenance of the grave. The event to honour FitzRoy's memory was organized by the National Maritime Museum as part of Sea Britain 2005, a year-long celebration of Britain's maritime heritage, inspired by the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar.
After an introduction and welcome by Stephen Riley, Director of Maritime Heritage, National Maritime Museum, a short service was led by the Reverend Leonard Marsh, Priest-in-Charge of All Saints' Church. During the service, Lord Hunt of Chesterton, FRS, Chief Executive of the Met Office from 1992 to 1997, read Psalm 8 and then spoke about FitzRoy's remarkable achievements as seafarer, meteorologist and hydrographer. He was followed by John Gribbin, author of FitzRoy: the remarkable story of Darwin's captain and the invention of the weather forecast (Headline Book Publishing Ltd, 2003), who spoke further about FitzRoy's life and achievements. He in turn was followed by Charlie Connelly, author and broadcaster, who read John Betjeman's poem Winter Seascape.
The weather for the occasion was grey and overcast, with intermittent rain falling from the nimbostratus clouds of an occluded front, which seemed somehow appropriate for a man who was so given to bouts of depression and, indeed, took his own life.
Malcolm Walker
