On November 17, 1820, Nathaniel Brown Palmer steered his 47-foot sloop, Hero, to the Antarctic Peninsula, marking the third group to discover the continental region. This expedition solidified his status as a maritime pioneer, bridging his early career as a seal hunter with his later influence on the rapid evolution of global sailing transport.
Antarctic Discovery and Sealing
Born in Stonington, Connecticut, in 1799, Palmer began his maritime life deeply involved in the Antarctic fur trade. During the 1810s, he served as second mate on the Hersilia, which reached the South Shetland Islands. By age 21, he achieved his first command. While searching for seal rookeries, he and his crew discovered the Antarctic Peninsula and later co-discovered the South Orkney Islands alongside George Powell.
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Transitioning from sealing, Palmer shifted his focus to the express freight trade. In 1843, he captained the Paul Jones from Boston to Hong Kong in 111 days. His firsthand experience with existing vessels allowed him to refine hull and rigging designs, earning him recognition as a co-developer of the 19th-century clipper ship. Following this period, he became a successful owner of clipper ships managed by others.
Domestic Legacy and Recognition
Palmer purchased the Capt. Loper house in Stonington in 1836 and constructed a new residence there between 1852 and 1854. Now known as the Capt. Nathaniel B. Palmer House, this structure features Greek Revival and Victorian Italianate elements and became a National Historic Landmark in 1996. He was initiated into the Masonic Asylum Lodge No. 57 in 1826 and remained a member until his death in San Francisco in 1877.
Geographic and Institutional Honors
His impact on exploration is commemorated through several geographic features, including Palmer Land and the Palmer Archipelago. His influence extends to the planet Mercury, where the escarpment Hero Rupes is named after his vessel. Modern programs continue this legacy; both the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer icebreaker and the research facility Palmer Station bear his name. In 1988, the U.S. Postal Service released a stamp commemorating his contributions.
Fast facts
- Born: 1799, Stonington, Connecticut
- Died: June 21, 1877, San Francisco
- Primary Vessel: Sloop Hero
- Key Discovery: Antarctic Peninsula (1820)
- Professional Titles: Engineer, naval officer, explorer
- Burial Site: Stonington
- Commemorative Stamp Issued: September 14, 1988
- National Historic Landmark Designation: 1996
Questions readers ask
Was Nathaniel Palmer the first person to see Antarctica?
He was the third, following earlier 1820 sightings reported by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Edward Bransfield.
What is the origin of his house in Stonington?
Palmer bought the Capt. Loper house in 1836 and built his own residence there between 1852 and 1854, which currently serves as the Stonington Historical Society headquarters.
Achievements
- Recorded as explorer, naval officer and engineer
