27 Facts About James Rennell

James Rennell was present at the Raid on Cherbourg, and at the disastrous Battle of Saint-Cast in the same year.

James Rennell soon mastered the theory and practice of marine surveying, and, on account of his proficiency in this regard, Parker lent his services to the East India Company.

James Rennell served for a year on board one of the company's ships bound to the Philippines, with the object "of establishing new branches of trade with the natives of the intervening places".

James Rennell accompanied the hydrographer Alexander Dalrymple and drew several charts and plans of harbours on journeys in the schooner Cuddalore, the London and the Neptune.

In 1763, at the end of the Seven Years' War, seeing no chance of promotion, James Rennell entered the service of the East India Company's sea service.

James Rennell became a good friend of the Governor of Madras, Robert Palk, who came from Devon.

James Rennell initially surveyed the Ganges river starting in the autumn of 1764, encountering in 1766 the mountains that he called the Tartarian mountains.

James Rennell was treated by Dr Francis Russell and was fortunate to recover although he never gained full function of his right arm.

James Rennell immediately sent money home to his mother and sister while showing gratitude by sending gifts to Rev Burrington's children.

The surveys were sometimes dangerous, a party of his men were attacked by a leopard and James Rennell had to use his bayonet to save his men.

James Rennell took up his residence in Suffolk Street, near Portland Place, where his house became a place of meeting for travellers from all parts of the world.

James Rennell contributed papers to Archaeologia on the site of Babylon, the island of St Paul's shipwreck, and the landing-place of Caesar in Britain.

James Rennell published a book titled Memoir of a map of Hindoostan and dedicated to Sir Joseph Banks.

Beside his geographical and historical works, James Rennell is known today for his hydrographical works on the currents in the Atlantic and Indian oceans.

James Rennell started his research on these topics when he was travelling by a sailing ship with his family from India to Britain after his retirement in 1777.

James Rennell was the first to explain the causes of the occasional northern current found to the south of the Isles of Scilly, which has since been called as Rennell's Current.

James Rennell was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1781; and he received the Copley Medal of the Royal Society in 1791, and the gold medal of the Royal Society of Literature in 1825.

James Rennell has been called the Father of Indian Geography, and for his pioneering work on oceanography as the Father of Oceanography.

In later life James Rennell suffered from gout and in 1829 he fell from a chair and broke his thigh.

James Rennell died on 29 March 1830 at his home on Suffolk Street.

James Rennell was interred in the nave of Westminster Abbey, and there is a tablet to his memory, with a bronze bust by Ludwig Hagbold, near the western door.

James Rennell is credited with the original mapping of the Mountains of Kong, supposedly located in the western part of Africa, based on information supplied by explorer Mungo Park.

James Rennell was diffident and unassuming, but ever ready to impart information.

James Rennell's conversation was interesting, and he had a remarkable flow of spirits.

James Rennell was however irrational in proposing that the Niger ended in a lake without reaching the sea.

James Rennell was strongly opposed to the methods of William Lambton in his proposed trigonometrical survey.

James Rennell's opposition had to be neutralized by Sir Nevil Maskelyne before Lambton's plan was approved.