Who was Joshua Slocum? Joshua Slocum was born on February 20, 1844, in Wilmot, Nova Scotia, Canada. He spent his childhood exploring the forests and lakes around his family's farm, developing a love of adventure and the great outdoors. In 1860, he left home, signed-on, as ordinary seamen,on a merchant ship in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This vessel was bound for Ireland. Slocum spent a number of years on British merchant vessels carrying cargo to the far corners of the globe.
Over the next several years, Slocum gained valuable experience as a sailor and navigator. Paying his dues at sea, Slocum rose through the ranks from Ordinary Seaman to Chief Mate and eventually became the master of a number of commercial vessels. He also owned a number of vessels during his rich and adventurous life. Slocum eventually became owner and captain of a small sloop named "Spray".
On April 24, 1895, Slocum embarked on what would become his most famous journey: a solo circumnavigation of the globe. He set sail from Boston, in his gaff-rigged sloop, "Spray"
and spent the next three years sailing around the world, navigating treacherous waters and encountering numerous challenges along the way.
Despite these obstacles, Slocum persisted, using his expert sailing skills and knowledge of the sea to navigate through storms, hostile waters, and even pirate attacks. He returned home on June 27, 1898. His circumnavigation of the globe covered a distance of more than 46, 000 miles. He chronicled his journey in his book "Sailing Alone Around the World,"
which became an instant bestseller and a classic of adventure literature.
Slocum continued to sail and write during the years immediately following his return to Newport, Rhode Island. He tried to settle down to a life of farming, but could not. As the years passed by Slocum became more restless for adventure. His funds were also running low.
So, he planned another maritime adventure hoping that he would be able to generate more income from another book deal. On November 14, 1909, Slocum set sail for the West Indies in his vessel, "Spray". "He was never heard from again".
"In July 1910, his wife informed the newspapers that she believed he was lost at sea.
Despite being an experienced mariner, Slocum never learned to swim and considered learning to swim to be useless.
In 1924, Joshua Slocum was declared legally dead. Source: WikipediA.
Despite his untimely death, Slocum left behind a legacy of bravery, resilience, and love for the sea that continues to inspire sailors and adventurers to this day.