Tempus Patria is a 'pop-up' activity featuring commemorations and celebrations of historical events, places, people and things that relate to the North of England. The geographical coverage is essentially north of the Trent and Mersey and south of the Solway and North Tyne (more diverse stuff will also be included ‘on merit’). Join in!

Yorkshire Discovers The World!

Martin Frobisher & James Cook

Two Yorkshire explorers: one an incorrigible rogue and the other an ardent scientist.

1 August to 1 December - MX0YHA, Gargrave North Yorkshire - 2m FM

(normally daily at various times)

This is our full-size EeZee QSL. Right click to download. It's single-sided, write whatever you want on the back)

Two faces of Exploration - Frobisher & Cook

During the 15th and 16th centuries western European countries - Britain, France, Portugal, Spain and Holland - were in strong competition to develop trade and trading posts in other parts of the world.

Initially, Merchant Adventurers, using 'private capital', often followed the early explorations of whalers and fishermen rather than behind scientists or empire-builders. Monarchs and governments helped by offering rewards or investments, but did not accept any of the associated risks.

As conflicts often occurred between different nationalities the Merchant Adventurers often became 'Privateers' - officially-sanctioned pirates. After the great expansion of British overseas interests under Elizabeth I the wealth generated by merchant adventurers attracted the attention of governments keen to benefit from the riches being exploited and the opportunities to expand their empires.

By the 18th Century Britain was the leading imperial and economic country and was keen to systematically explore even more distant parts of the world than the fringes of the North Atlantic.

Against this background, two Yorkshiremen (amongst others from lesser counties) exemplify these two different approaches to what was essentially economic exploration, namely quick profits vs strategic interests: Martin Frobisher (c.1535-1594) and James Cook (1728-1779). Frobisher was a 'go getter' (typical of his age), while Cook was much more a scientific explorer. Both served the interests of British Imperial power in their own ways.

Martin Frobisher

1535 (or 1539) - 1594. Born Altofts, Wakefield, Yorkshire

Frobisher was born at the end of Henry VIII's reign, at a time when European nations were beginning to accelerate their exploration of other parts of the world, principally north and south America, Africa, India and the Far East.

At the age of 12 Martin Frobisher was sent to live with relatives in the cloth trade in London. By the age of 18 Frobisher was involved in merchant adventurer (privateer) explorations of the West African coast.

After a career of privateering , including being jailed by the Portuguese and English for it, Frobisher turned his attention to the possible existence of a Northwest Passage to China, Japan and the Indies. He undertook three voyages but none were successful.

Frobisher subsequently 'joined the establishment', being involved, with Drake, in the wars with Spain and the Spanish Armada.

James Cook

There is a wealth of biographical information about James Cook available online, so we won't repeat it here. What is interesting is the contrast between Frobisher and Cook. James Cook was a career naval officer of high regard and impeccable credentials. He was commissioned by the Admiralty to explore the coasts of the Atlantic, to explore the Pacific and to claim new lands for the British Crown wherever possible. He had available some of the most up-to-date navigational aids and made excellent use of them. His maps of the coast of Newfoundland, for example, were more accurate than ones produced by the Royal Navy a hundred years later.

Previously

James Cook & HMS Resolution

First crossing of the Antarctic Circle

17th January 1773 - 250th Anniversary, 2023

Yorkshireman James Cook made the first crossing of the Antarctic Circle on 17th January 1773, on HMS Resolution, encountering pack ice that stretched to the horizon. More information on The History Press.

The Battle of Boroughbridge

16 March 1322

One of the battles between Barons and Kings that occurred periodically in the 13th and 14th Centuries and which were attempts, like the Magna Carta rebellion, to curb the excesses of the current king - in this case Edward II who won the battle, but subsequently lost his kingdom

A good account can be found here: https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/19985621.battle-won-kingdom-lost-700th-anniversary-battle-boroughbridge/