watercolourist and draughtsman, was said to be 'a genteel young fellow of a good education’ when he was surgeon’s mate aboard the Discovery , a ship on Captain Cook’s third voyage. During the voyage he transferred to the accompanying Resolution . Ellis drew coastal profiles, bird studies and landscapes on the voyage, including View of the Fluted Cape, Van Diemen’s Land, New Holland (pencil and watercolour, La Trobe Library). His book, Authentic Narrative of a Voyage performed by Captain Cook and Captain Clarke in H.M.S. Resolution and Discovery during the years 1776-1780 (London, 1782), was thought unsatisfactory by many, being written from memory. In June 1785, soon after embarking on an Austrian scientific expedition, Ellis fell from the mast and died.
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- Writers:
- Staff Writer
- Date written:
- 1992
- Last updated:
- 2011
