Captain Nathaniel Brown Palmer: A Maritime Pioneer

Written by Candace Sanford

Illustrated by Susan Scala

Nathaniel Brown Palmer was a seal hunter, sailing captain and ship designer. Born in Stonington, Connecticut in 1799, he began a seagoing career at a young age. In 1820, at the age of 21, he was in command of the small scouting sloop HERO which was searching for new seal rookeries south of Cape Horn. While on this voyage, Palmer recorded sighting land which was not on his chart. This land was the continent of Antarctica. Nathaniel Palmer went on to become the captain of large passenger and freight vessels and the designer of clipper ships. He died in 1877 at the age of 78. Palmer Land, a section of Antarctica, is named in his honor.

Great for young readers 

Published by Flat Hammock Press, 2007