Byron's journal of his circumnavigation, 1764-1766

In 1764 the Hon. John Byron was commissioned by the Admiralty to sail to the South Atlantic to search for Pepys's Island and the Southern Continent.

He was then to continue into the Pacific itself and look for a possible North-west passage.

Although he rediscovered the Falkland Islands, it was after the French had done so under Bougainville, and he made no attempt to search for a North-west passage at all, but sailed straight on round the world, making no discoveries of any importance.

The journal which Byron kept during his voyage has been edited and annotated by Dr Gallagher.