Person

Spöring, Herman Diedrich (c. 1733 - 1771)

Born
c. 1733
Åbo, Sweden
Died
25 January 1771
At sea
Occupation
Explorer, Natural history artist and Naturalist

Summary

Herman Spöring was a skilled draughtsman and naturalist who studied medicine and surgery at the Universities of Åbo and Stockholm, Sweden, from 1748 - 1753, before travelling to England. While in London he worked as a watchmaker. In 1768 he was engaged as secretary to Joseph Banks, with whom he was acquainted, on the voyage of H.M.B. Endeavour to the south seas under the command of James Cook. Spöring was also known to fellow naturalist on the voyage, Daniel Solander. When landscape artist Alexander Buchan died in 1769 his duties were assumed by Spöring. In assisting Banks, Spöring completed many botanical and zoological drawings. His talents as a watchmaker useful on Endeavour where he was able to repair delicate navigational instruments. Spöring died at sea after the expedition left Batavia, as did nearly 30 other crew members who were suffering from dysentery.

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Details

Chronology

1768 - 1771
Career position - Secretary to Joseph Banks of H.M.B. Endeavour under the command of James Cook

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Published resources

Conference Papers

  • Pearn, John H., 'Hermann Diedrich Spöring (1773 - 1771), naturalist, artist, surgeon', in Australian and New Zealand Society of the History of Medicine biennial scientific meeting, Perth 2009 (Australian and New Zealand Society of the History of Medicine, 2009), p. 16.. https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:200355. Details

Resources

See also

  • Joppien, Rudiger and Smith, Bernard, The Art of Captain Cook's Voyages: Volume 1 - the Voyage of the 'Endeavour' 1768-1771 (Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1985), 262 pp. Details

Annette Alafaci and Helen Cohn

Created: 18 September 2006, Last modified: 17 May 2022

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