PALMER, NATHANIEL B(ROWN)

born Aug. 8, 1799, Stonington, Conn., U.S. died June 21, 1877, San Francisco, Calif. American sea captain and explorer after whom Palmer Land, a stretch of western Antarctic coast and islands, is named. Palmer went to sea at the age of 14. He served first as a sailor on a blockade runner in the War of 1812. He later became a sealer, and his South Sea explorations were largely stimulated by the desire to locate new seal rookeries. Becoming captain of the schooner Galina in 1818, Palmer began explorations of the Cape Horn region and western Antarctic the following year. On these and subsequent voyages he discovered the Gerlache Strait and Orleans Channel in Antarctica as well as the South Orkney Islands. From 1822 to 1826 he engaged in trade on the Spanish Main and helped to transport troops and supplies to Simn Bolvar during the war of South American independence. Throughout much of his career Palmer displayed a keen interest in shipbuilding and helped to design packets (passenger boats), pleasure yachts, and clipper ships.