William Webb Ellis b. c.1756

  • Artist (Draughtsman),
  • Artist (Painter)
A watercolourist and draughtsman. Webb worked as surgeon's mate on Cook's third voyage. He drew coastal profiles, bird studies and landscapes.
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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

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Related collections
  • National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, England, UK (collected in)
  • British Museum, London, England, UK (collected in)
  • Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand (collected in)
  • Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW (collected in)
  • La Trobe Collection, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC (collected in)
  • National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England, UK (collected in)
  • British Museum, London, England, UK (collected in)
  • Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand (collected in)
  • Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW (collected in)
  • La Trobe Collection, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC (collected in)