Henry Mangles Denham


Sir Henry Mangles Denham was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station.

Early career

Denham entered the navy at the age of 12 and specialised in hydrographic work. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1822. From October 1827, he was lieutenant-commander in, surveying the coast of France. From September 1828 to March 1835, he surveyed the Bristol Channel, and the ports of Liverpool and Milford. On 28 February 1839 he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. From 15 January 1842 he was commander in, commanded by Frederick William Beechey, surveying the coast of Ireland. On 30 July 1845, he was made commander of, surveying the west coast of Africa.

Survey of the South Pacific, 1852-1861

On 18 February 1852 Denham was made captain of. As captain of HMS Herald, he carried out major survey work around Australia, New Caledonia and other parts of the Southwest Pacific in the period 1852 to 1861.
The voyage of HMS Herald earned him a lasting place in the history of maritime surveying. For a decade, the Herald surveyed and charted known land masses and suspected hazards in the south-west Pacific and substantial parts of the Australian coast, thereby establishing safe routes for shipping. Some of the Herald's charts are still in use. At the time of Denham's voyages, the south-west Pacific was a mission field, a site of commercial activity, and a colonial outpost. The natural history specimens gathered by naturalists William Grant Milne and John MacGillivray on the expedition resulted in significant additions to botanical and ornithological collections.
The voyage began in England on 21 February 1852, arriving in Australia on 18 February 1853. The ship then began its survey by visiting Lord Howe Island, the Isle of Pines and Aneityum ; New Zealand and Raoul Island, ; Fiji, ; and Norfolk Island. After a second visit to Fiji,, the Herald was involved with the resettlement of the Pitcairn Islanders to Norfolk Island,. A third visit was then undertaken to Fiji,, followed by the survey of Port Jackson, New South Wales, ; Bass Strait, King George Sound and Shark Bay. After three visits to the Coral Sea,, the Herald began the first leg of its homeward voyage, Sydney to Surabaya,, departing Surabaya on 21 November 1860 and arriving at Chatham on 1 June 1861.

Commander-in-chief, Pacific

From 10 May 1864 to 21 November 1866, Denham served as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station. In 1866, he was knighted for his hydrographical services. He retired with the rank of vice admiral in 1871.
The town of Denham, Western Australia, named is after him, as is the New Caledonian endemic tree Meryta denhamii. Denham Island, British Columbia, was named after him by a fellow Royal Navy surveyor.

Family

In 1826, he married Isabella, daughter of Rev. Joseph Cole, of Carmarthen. A son Fleetwood James Denham served under his father on, and died of a tropical fever on Raoul Island, in New Zealand's Kermadec Islands chain, aged 16 years in 1854. He was buried near the beach at the head of Denham Bay.