Philip Carteret

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Philip Carteret

1733-1810

English navigator who commanded the Swallow, which accompanied Samuel Wallis during his circumnavigation on the Dolphin from 1766-68. Carteret was uncertain about commanding the Swallow, questioning her seaworthiness, but completed the voyage in spite of becoming separated from Wallis and losing most of his crew to disease or desertion. He completed a great deal of exploration in the area of what is now Indonesia, and discovered Pitcairn Island, where the mutineers of the H.M.S Bounty later sought refuge.