William Smith discovers Desolation Island

Background. William Smith, an English captain born in Blyth, Northumberland, discovered the South Shetland Islands in 1819. In February 1819, while sailing cargo from Buenos Aires to Valparaíso, he deviated south of Cape Horn and sighted Williams Point on Livingston Island. The naval authorities initially doubted his discovery, prompting a subsequent trip in October 1819 where he landed on the largest of the islands and named the archipelago.

Discovery of Desolation Island. Desolation Island is a minor island in the South Shetlands archipelago, situated at the entrance to Hero Bay, Livingston Island. Captain William Smith discovered the island on 15 October 1819 during his second visit to the islands. This occurred shortly after he landed on King George Island on 16 October 1819, claiming possession for Britain.

Archipelago Context. The South Shetland Islands lie about 120 kilometres north of the Antarctic Peninsula. Smith named the archipelago in honour of the Shetland Islands north of Scotland. While Smith is credited with the discovery, earlier sightings by Dutch or Spanish mariners or sealers remain possible. The islands' sovereignty is neither recognized nor disputed under the Antarctic Treaty of 1959.