George Vancouver

Naval officer and hydrographer. Joined the Royal Navy aged 14 and served under James Cook on his second and third expeditions to the Pacific. Vancouver passed the lieutenant examination in 1780. His 1791-95 expedition explored the American coast from 30°N to 60°N, and mapped the coast of present-day British Columbia, Washington, and Alaska. Vancouver Island, the city of Vancouver in British Columbia, and Fort Vancouver in Washington were all named after him.