Edmund Fanning (1769-1841)
Sea Captain & Shipping Merchant aka "Pathfinder of the Pacific"
He was born to a seafaring family at Stonington, Connecticut, and was named for his uncle, General Edmund Fanning, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia. He started his career at sea as a cabin boy at the age of fourteen. Ten years later (1793), he was captain of his own brig trading with the West Indies. In the previous year (1792) he established himself in New York City and went into business with Willet Coles as Fanning & Coles. Becoming involved in the China trade, he made a fortune. In 1798 alone, he killed 100,000 seals and sold their skins in China in exchange for silk, spices and tea which he sold in New York. On the same voyage he discovered three South Pacific Islands (Fanning, Washington & Palmyra), collectively known as the Fanning Islands.
He acted as agent to over 70 commercial expeditions and voyages including the South Sea Exploring Expedition (the first American exploring expedition) which was funded by the U.S. government in 1829. He was also largely responsible for the authorization of the Wilkes Expedition to explore and survey the South Pacific from 1838. Both Cape Fanning in Antarctica and the Fanning Ridge on South Georgia Island are named for him. He authored two entertaining books, Voyages & Discoveries in the South Seas (New York 1832) and Voyages Round the World (New York, 1834). In 1790, he married Sarah, daughter of Acors and Lois (Cobb) Sheffield, of Stonington. They lived between New York City and Stonington and were the parents of three children, two of whom (listed) survived to adulthood. Captain Fanning died in New York City, four days after the death of his wife.
He acted as agent to over 70 commercial expeditions and voyages including the South Sea Exploring Expedition (the first American exploring expedition) which was funded by the U.S. government in 1829. He was also largely responsible for the authorization of the Wilkes Expedition to explore and survey the South Pacific from 1838. Both Cape Fanning in Antarctica and the Fanning Ridge on South Georgia Island are named for him. He authored two entertaining books, Voyages & Discoveries in the South Seas (New York 1832) and Voyages Round the World (New York, 1834). In 1790, he married Sarah, daughter of Acors and Lois (Cobb) Sheffield, of Stonington. They lived between New York City and Stonington and were the parents of three children, two of whom (listed) survived to adulthood. Captain Fanning died in New York City, four days after the death of his wife.
