Enderby, Charles, 1798?-1876

Epithet: of Add MS 40458

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001094.0x00014a

Charles Enderby was born circa 1798, the grandson of Samuel Enderby (1720-1797), founder of Enderby & Sons, a sealing and whaling firm active in both the Arctic and Southern Ocean. On the death of his father, Samuel Enderby Jnr. (1756-1829), Charles and his brothers Henry and George took over, moving the firm in 1830 from Paul's Wharf to Great St Helens in the City of London. In the same year, Charles became a founding member of the Royal Geographical Society, later serving on its council on several occasions between 1842 and 1847.

Charles encouraged masters of Enderby vessels to report geographical discoveries and had notable successes with John Biscoe and John Balleny, who between them discovered Enderby Land, Graham Land, the Balleny Islands and the Sabrina Coast. An Enderby captain, Abraham Bristow, had discovered the Auckland Islands in 1806, naming one of the islands Enderby Island. However, by the mid-nineteenth century, the firm's profits were in decline following losses made by the exploring expeditions, and the destruction of the firm's Greenwich rope-making factory by fire in 1845. Whaling vessels, too, required expensive strengthening in order to withstand impact by ice in the Southern Ocean.

Looking for a way to revive the firm's fortunes, Charles sought government backing to establish a whaling station on the Auckland Islands. In 1849, the Southern Whale Fishery Company was established to manage the enterprise and Charles Enderby was appointed lieutenant governor of the islands. He himself chose to lead the expedition, even though he had never before been on such a voyage. In December 1849, three vessels loaded with settlers and stores arrived at Enderby Island, where land was cleared for the colony and whaling station. However, the cold, damp climate and acid soils made agriculture impossible, and the eight whaling ships attached to the station caught very few whales. In 1852, Enderby Settlement was dismantled and closed and Charles Enderby returned to London in the following year.

This ill-fated enterprise overstrained the resources of Messrs Enderby, which was liquidated in 1854. Charles Enderby died in poverty in London on 31 August 1876.

From the guide to the Charles Enderby collection, 1845, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)