Origins & Early Life

Joshua Slocum (February 20, 1844 – on or shortly after November 14, 1909) was the first person to sail single-handedly around the world. He was a Nova Scotian-born, naturalised American seaman and adventurer, and a noted writer. In 1900 he wrote a book about his journey, Sailing Alone Around the World, which became an international best-seller. He disappeared in November 1909 while aboard his boat, the Spray.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Joshua Slocum was born on February 20, 1844, in Mount Hanley, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia (officially recorded as Wilmot Station), a community on the North Mountain within sight of the Bay of Fundy. The fifth of eleven children of John Slocomb and Sarah Jane Slocombe née Southern, Joshua descended, on his father's side, from a Quaker known as "John the Exile", who left the United States shortly after 1780 because of his opposition to the American War for Independence. As part of the Loyalist migration to Nova Scotia, the Slocombes were granted 500 acres (2.0 km2) of farmland in Nova Scotia's Annapolis County. Joshua Slocum was born in the family's farmhouse in Mount Hanley and learned to read and write at the nearby Mount Hanley School. His earliest...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• ʻAbdu'l-Bahá — Contemporary (Born in 1844) (1844): Successor to Baháʼu'lláh and guiding light of the Baháʼí Faith.
• Anatole France — Contemporary (Born in 1844) (1844): Master French writer, poet, and journalist celebrated for irony and style.
• Bertel Thorvaldsen — Contemporary (Died in 1844) (1844): Master sculptor of Neoclassicism, famed for monumental works across Europe.
• Albert R. Broccoli — Contemporary (Born in 1909) (1909): Pioneering American film producer, best known for developing the James Bond franchise.
• Barry Goldwater — Contemporary (Born in 1909) (1909): Conservative Senator and Presidential Nominee who championed modern American conservatism.
• Benny Goodman — Contemporary (Born in 1909) (1909): Pioneering jazz clarinetist, bandleader, and the celebrated 'King of Swing'.
• Adalbert Gyrowetz — Shared historical date (02-20 · Born) (1763): Czech-Austrian composer known for symphonies and string quartets.
• Ansel Adams — Shared historical date (02-20 · Born) (1902): Iconic photographer and environmentalist celebrated for the American West's landscapes.
• A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada — Shared historical date (11-14 · Died) (1977): Pioneering global spread of Krishna consciousness teachings and the Hare Krishna mantra.
• Aaron Copland — Shared historical date (11-14 · Born) (1900): Pioneering American composer, conductor, and critic, known as the "Dean of American Music".
• 1844 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1844
• February 20 (02-20) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 20
• 1909 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1909
• November 14 (11-14) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 14