James iredell waddell biography of martin

5. Early Life

James Weddell, who would become a famed English seal hunter, navigator, and explorer, was born in Ostend, England, on September 24th, 1787.

His family became impoverished after his father passed away, so his mother sent him to the Royal Navy at the age of nine, alongside his older brother. Six months later, Weddell was given discharge papers. In 1805, Weddell was again sent out to sea as an apprentice to a ship captain, and most of his early years were spent training to become a sailor.

Bonded to the sea captain and treated harshly, as was common for apprentices during that time, after five years Weddell left to join the Royal Navy again. This time, he moved up through the ranks to become a Master of the Royal Navy ship, Hope.

James iredell waddell biography of martin

4. Career

As master of a navy warship, Weddell was called to duty in the English-French War. In 1816, after the Napoleonic Wars were concluded, he was discharged from his Royal Navy service. By