History
Timeline and Service Record
-
1806 Lieutenant John Gore II, RN, marries Sarah Gilmour in the Cathedral Church of St. Thomas of Canterbury, Portsmouth (Hampshire, UK), on May 15
1807 John Gore III is born in Plymouth (Devon, UK) on September 12, and baptized in St. Charles the Martyr’s Church, Plymouth (Devon, UK), on June 17, 1808
1808/09 Graham Gore is born and baptized in Plymouth (Devon, UK)
1811 Ann Gore is born in Bickington, near Barnstaple (Devon, UK), and baptized in St. Peter’s Church, Fremington (Devon, UK), on May 5
1813 Charlotte Gore is born in Bickington, near Barnstaple (Devon, UK) on January 24, and baptized in St. Peter’s Church, Fremington (Devon, UK), on February 22
1815 Eliza Gore is born in Bickington, near Barnstaple (Devon, UK), and baptized in St. Peter’s Church, Fremington (Devon, UK), on June 11
1817 Edward Gore is born in Bickington, near Barnstaple (Devon, UK), and baptized in St. Peter’s Church, Fremington (Devon, UK), on June 1
-
1820 Volunteered for service in the British Royal Navy by Commander John Gore II, RN, on April 26
Appointed to HMS Doterel [Dotterel] as Volunteer of the First Class on April 27, until July 20, 1821
1824 Appointed to HMS Ocean as Midshipman on April 10, until January 16, 1827
John Gore III dies in August
1827 Appointed to HMS Albion as Midshipman on January 17, until December 22
Participates in the Battle of Navarino on October 20
Appointed to HMS Mosquito [Musquito] as Midshipman on December 23, until October 30, 1830.
1829 Passes Lieutenant’s examination on January 21
-
1830 Appointed to HMS Pickle as Mate on December 16, until April 5, 1833
1833 Appointed to HMS Dispatch as Mate on April 6, until October 18, 1835 (via HMS Magnificent from April 6 to June 5)
Captain John Gore II, RN, Sarah Gore, Ann Gore, Charlotte Gore, Eliza Gore and Edward Gore board the City of Edinburgh in Plymouth (Devon, UK) to settle over to the Colony of New South Wales / Australia on November 18
1834 Captain John Gore II, RN, Sarah Gore, Ann Gore, Charlotte Gore, Eliza Gore and Edward Gore arrive in Port Jackson, Sydney (Cumberland, Col. New South Wales / Australia), on March 30
1835 Appointed to HMS Howe as Mate on October 19, until May 12, 1836
1836 Appointed to HMS Terror as Mate on May 13, until November 16, 1837
1837 Promoted to Lieutenant in absentia on January 10
Appointed to HMS Modeste as Lieutenant on November 23, until January 27, 1838
1838 Appointed to HMS Volage as Lieutenant on January 28, until October 27, 1840
1839 Participates in the Aden Expedition on January 19
Eliza Gore marries George Stewart in Goulburn District (Argyle, Col. New South Wales / Australia), on May 2
Participates in the Battle of Kowloon on September 4
Appointed 1st Lieutenant of HMS Volage on October 1
Participates in the First Battle of Chuenpi on November 3
-
1840 Appointed to HMS Herald as Lieutenant on October 28 (via MS Manilla, unable to board)
1841 Boarded HMS Beagle on February 24 (in wait for HMS Herald)
Appointed to HMS Beagle as 1st Lieutenant on April 1, until October 14, 18431843 Appointed to HMS Cyclops as 1st Lieutenant on December 11, until March 7, 1845
1845 Appointed to HMS Erebus as 1st Lieutenant on March 8
1846 Raises claims for China War Medal in absentia via Halford & Co. on August 27
Promoted to Commander in absentia on November 9
1847 Last sign of life, signing and depositing the Victory Point Note on May 28
Promoted to Commander in field between May 28 and April 25, 1848
Dies on Qikiqtaq / King William’s Land (Nunavut, Canada) between May 28 and April 25, 1848
-
1853 Rear Admiral John Gore II, RN, dies at Gilmour Estate, near Lake Bathurst (Argyle, Col. New South Wales / Australia) on March 6
1854 Removed from Navy List on April 1
1855 Awarded Arctic Medal post mortem
1856 Declared Dead
1857 Sarah Gore dies at Gilmour Estate, near Lake Bathurst (Argyle, Col. New South Wales / Australia) on April 7
1859 Edward Gore marries Eliza Strang in Goulburn District (Argyle, Col. New South Wales / Australia) on March 2
1863 Edward Gore dies in Goulburn District (Argyle, Col. New South Wales / Australia) on September 21
1872 Eliza Stewart dies in Brighton (Adelaide, Col. South Australia / Australia) on November 29
1885 Charlotte Gore dies at Gilmour Estate, near Lake Bathurst (Argyle, Col. New South Wales / Australia) on January 19
1891 Ann Gore dies at Gilmour Estate, near Lake Bathurst (Argyle, Col. New South Wales / Australia) on May 24
1902 Gilmour Estate, near Lake Bathurst (Argyle, Australia) is sold to Walter Reynolds
-
Early Life
The Register Book of Marriages Solemnized in the Parish Church of Portsmouth in the County of Southampton (1795-1806), in: Portsmouth History Centre, Portsmouth (UK), CHU 2/1A/5 (via Findmypast. Hampshire, Portsmouth Baptisms, accessed on March 11, 2025)
Register of Baptisms and Burials, in the Parish of Charles’, Plymouth, in the County of Devon, (1802-1812), in: The Box, Plymouth and West Devon Record Office, Plymouth (UK), 167/5 (via Findmypast. Devon Baptisms, accessed March 11, 2025)
Ship’s Musters (Series II). Ship: Dotterel, Type: Sloop (April 1, 1820 - July 31, 1821), in: National Archives, Kew, London (UK), ADM 37/6204
Register of Baptisms and Burials of the Parish of Fremington (1790-1812), in: South West Heritage Trust, North Devon Record Office, Barnstaple, 520A/PR/1/3 (via Findmypast. Devon Baptisms, accessed March 11, 2025)
Register of Baptisms in the Parish of Fremington in the County of Devon (1813-1839), in: South West Heritage Trust, North Devon Record Office, Barnstaple, 520A/PR/1/4 (via Findmypast. Devon Baptisms, accessed March 11, 2025)
1820s
John Gore to Admirality (April 26, 1820), in: Letters from Captains. Surnames G, in: National Archives, Kew, London (UK), ADM 1/1864/31
Lieutenants' Certificates of Service (1817-1834), in: National Archives, Kew, London (UK), ADM 107/74
Prerogative Court Administration Alphabet (1824), in: National Archives, Kew, London (UK), IR 27/33
1830s
Ship’s Musters (Series III). Pickle M. (September 1, 1832 - December 31, 1833), in: National Archives, Kew, London (UK), ADM 38/1373
Ship’s Musters (Series II). Ship: Dispatch, Type: Sloop (June 1, 1832 - October 31, 1835), in: National Archives, Kew, London (UK), ADM 37/8994
Reports of Vessels Arrived or Shipping Reports (Series 1291, Roll 1264. 1826-1859) in: State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, Sydney (Australia), NRS 1291 (via Findmypast. Australia, Inward, Outward & Coastal Passenger Lists 1826-1972, accessed on March 11, 1825)
Ship’s Musters (Series II). Ship: Howe (April 1, 1836 - June 30, 1836), in: National Archives, Kew, London (UK), ADM 37/9231
Ship’s Musters (Series II). Ship: Terror, Type: Bomb Ship (July 1, 1837 - November 30, 1837), in: National Archives, Kew, London (UK), ADM 37/9969
The Navy List (June 1841). London (UK), John Murray (via Archive.org, accessed on March 14, 2025)
Family Notices, in: The Sydney Herald (May 8, 1839. via Trove, accessed March 11, 2025)
The New South Wales Pioneers Index (1788-1918), in: National Library of Australia, Canberra, Np 2023-787 (via Ancestry. Australian Death Index, 1785-1958, accessed on March 11, 2025)
1840s
The Navy List (June 1841). London (UK), John Murray (via Archive.org, accessed on March 14, 2025)
Ship’s Musters (Series III). Beagle C., D., O. (February 6, 1837 - October 14, 1843), in: National Archives, Kew, London (UK), ADM 38/7618
1850s & Beyond
The New South Wales Pioneers Index (1788-1918), in: National Library of Australia, Canberra, Np 2023-787 (via Ancestry. Australian Death Index, 1785-1958, accessed on March 11, 2025)
The Navy List (June 1854). London (UK), John Murray (via Archive.org, accessed on March 13, 2025)
Medal Rolls. Arctic Medal, Roll of Recipients, in: National Archives, Kew, London (UK), ADM 171/9
Prerogative Court Administration Alphabet (1856), in: National Archives, Kew, London (UK), IR 27/65
Family Notices, in: Goulburn Herald (September 23, 1863. via Trove, accessed on March 12, 2025)
Family Notices, in: Goulburn Herald (February 3, 1885. via Trove, accessed on March 12, 2025)
Family
According to Captain John Lort Stokes, RN, the Gores “would seem to have an hereditary taste for the duties of a voyage of surveying and discovery” (Discoveries in Australia, vol. 1, p. 27). For three generations they sent their sons out to sea, up until the Franklin Expedition.
Featured Blogs
Early Life
Much of Graham Gore’s early life is unknown, prior to his first assignment on HMS Doterel [Dotterel] in 1820.
Midshipman
Graham Gore served as a Midshipman from 1824 until 1828. He passed his Lieutenant’s examination in 1829.
Mate
Graham Gore served as a Mate from 1830 until 1837, when he was promoted to Lieutenant in absentia while on Captain Sir George Back’s, RN, Arctic expedition in 1836-37.
Lieutenant
Graham Gore served as a Lieutenant from 1837 until around 1847, when he was first promoted to Commander in absentia in 1846 as well as in the field in 1847-48.
Featured Blogs
Art
Commander James Fitzjames, RN, wrote in a letter to his sister-in-law Elizabeth Coningham (neé Meyrick) that Graham Gore “draws sometimes very well, sometimes very badly” (Potter, Russell et al. (2023, ed.): May We Be Spared to Meet on Earth, p. 190).
I encourage you to view his art for yourself, and come to your own conclusions.
There are several pieces that I do not yet have permission to share. Those that can be viewed online have hyperlinks provided.
Featured Blogs
-
![pencil sketch on cardboard, depicting a sail boat near Betlem Castle, a stone building with a tower, signed G. Gore April 1827]()
Gore, Graham (1827): Belem Castle
pencil sketch
Source: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London (UK). Object ID BTL/1/2/2/13 -
![engraving, depicting a sail boat near the coatsline of Magnetic Island with sea gulls flying overhead, signed G. Gore del.]()
engraving (1846) after Gore, Graham (c. 1841-1843): North West part of Magnetical Island
engraving, based on sketch
Source: Stokes, John Lort (1846): Discoveries in Australia. With an Account of the Coast and Rivers. Explored and Survey during the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, in the Years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43 (vol. 1). London (UK), T. and W. Boone, p. 338 (PDM 1.0; via Archive.org, accessed on May 7, 2025) -
![engraving, depicting a rowboat in flat water, the coatline barely visble in the background and with seagulls flying overhead, signed G. Gore del.]()
engraving (1846) after Gore, Graham (c. 1841-1843): Entrance of Van Diemen's Inlet
engraving, based on sketch
Source: Stokes, John Lort (1846): Discoveries in Australia. With an Account of the Coast and Rivers. Explored and Survey during the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, in the Years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43 (vol. 2). London (UK), T. and W. Boone, p. 262 (PDM 1.0; via Archive.org, accessed on May 7, 2025) -
![engraving, depicting a rowboat in the Flinders River, framed by trees and a crain made of twigs, signed G. Gore del.]()
engraving (1846) after Gore, Graham (c. 1841-1843): Burial Reach, Flinders River
engraving, based on sketch
Source: Stokes, John Lort (1846): Discoveries in Australia. With an Account of the Coast and Rivers. Explored and Survey during the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, in the Years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43 (vol. 2). London (UK), T. and W. Boone, p. 295 (PDM 1.0; via Archive.org, accessed on May 7, 2025) -
![engraving, depicting the Albert River, with several men makking a fire at the shore, their rowboat nearby and another floating on the river, signed G. Gore del.]()
engraving (1846) after Gore, Graham (c. 1841-1843): Upward view of Hope Reach, Albert River
engraving, based on sketch
Source: Stokes, John Lort (1846): Discoveries in Australia. With an Account of the Coast and Rivers. Explored and Survey during the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, in the Years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43 (vol. 2). London (UK), T. and W. Boone, p. 312 (PDM 1.0; via Archive.org, accessed on May 7, 2025) -
![engraving, depicting a rowboat in the Albert River, framed by trees, signed G. Gore del.]()
engraving (1846) after Gore, Graham (c. 1841-1843): South Branch of the Albert River
engraving, based on sketch
Source: Stokes, John Lort (1846): Discoveries in Australia. With an Account of the Coast and Rivers. Explored and Survey during the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, in the Years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43 (vol. 1). London (UK), T. and W. Boone, p. 1 (PDM 1.0; via Archive.org, accessed on May 7, 2025) -
![engraving, three men staring at the flat plains in the background, two more men trying to climb the nearby trees, signed G. Gore del.]()
engraving (1846) after Gore, Graham (c. 1841-1843): First View of the Plains of Promise, Albert River
engraving, based on sketch
Source: Stokes, John Lort (1846): Discoveries in Australia. With an Account of the Coast and Rivers. Explored and Survey during the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, in the Years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43 (vol. 2). London (UK), T. and W. Boone, p. 316 (PDM 1.0; via Archive.org, accessed on May 7, 2025) -
![engraving, depicting two men looking at the flat plains in the background, framed by trees, signed G. Gore del.]()
engraving (1846) after Gore, Graham (c. 1841-1843): Last View of the Plains of Promise, Albert River
engraving, based on sketch
Source: Stokes, John Lort (1846): Discoveries in Australia. With an Account of the Coast and Rivers. Explored and Survey during the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, in the Years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43 (vol. 2). London (UK), T. and W. Boone, p. 317 (PDM 1.0; via Archive.org, accessed on May 7, 2025) -
![oil on canvas, engraving, depicting a rowboat in the Flinders River, framed by trees and a crain made of twigs]()
oil on canvas (c. 1842/post 1846) after Gore, Graham (c. 1841-1843): Burial Reach, Flinders River
oil on canvas
Source: National Library of Australia, Canberra. Object ID 347849 (PDM 1.0) -
![engraving, depicting a sail ship anchoring at Kupang, with several houses visible in the background, signed G. Gore del.]()
engraving (1846) after Gore, Graham (c. 1842-43): Coepang, from the Anchorage
engraving, based on sketch
Source: Stokes, John Lort (1846): Discoveries in Australia. With an Account of the Coast and Rivers. Explored and Survey during the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, in the Years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43 (vol. 2). London (UK), T. and W. Boone, p. 187 (PDM 1.0; via Archive.org, accessed on May 7, 2025) -
![ink sketch, depicting a sail ship near the shore of the Bass Strait, with two men working at shore]()
Gore, Graham (c. 1843): The 'Beagle' in the Bass Straits
ink sketch
Source: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London (UK). Object ID PAH0067 (CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0) -
![engraving, depicting four men capturing an alligator at the shore of Victoria River, a fifth man aiming a rifle at the alligator while a sixth one fatally stabs it, with three moutains visible in the background near the river, signed G. Gore del.]()
engraving (1846) after Gore, Graham (c. 1843): Killing an Alligator, Victoria River
engraving, based on sketch
Source: Stokes, John Lort (1846): Discoveries in Australia. With an Account of the Coast and Rivers. Explored and Survey during the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, in the Years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43 (vol. 2). London (UK), T. and W. Boone, p. 55 (PDM 1.0; via Archive.org, accessed on May 7, 2025) -
![ink sketch, depicting a sail ship anchored in a Bay, another ship visible at a peer in the background]()
Gore, Graham (c. 1843): The 'Beagle' at Anchor under Circular Head
ink sketch
Source: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London (UK). Object ID PAH0068 (CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0) -
![engraving, depicting a sail ship, waves breaking at the rocks of Vancouver Reef nearby, signed G. Gore del.]()
engraving (1846) after Gore, Graham (c. 1843): Passing between Bald Head & Vancouver Reef
engraving, based on sketch
Source: Stokes, John Lort (1846): Discoveries in Australia. With an Account of the Coast and Rivers. Explored and Survey during the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, in the Years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43 (vol. 2). London (UK), T. and W. Boone, p. 225 (PDM 1.0; via Archive.org, accessed on May 7, 2025) -
![pencil sketch, depicting the St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, framed by a fence and a single person standing nearby]()
Gore, Graham (1845): Kirkwall Cathedral
pencil sketch
Source: © National Trust. Dunham Massey (UK) / Robert Thrift. Object ID NT 936429 -
![ink sketch, depicting the St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, framed by a single fence to the right, commented with Kirkwall Cathedral from a sketch by Gore]()
Stanley, Owen (1845) after Gore, Graham (1845): Kirkwall Cathedral
-
![ink and watercolor sketch, depicting a sail ship at the open sea, three more ships visible in the background, signed G. Gore]()
Gore, Graham (1845): HMS Erebus, 22 May 1845, 3AM, off 'Aldborough'
ink and watercolor sketch
Source: © Scott Polar Research Institute. Polar Museum, Cambridge (UK). Object ID N.1533 -
![ink and watercolor sketch, depicting two sail ships at the open sea, signed G. Gore]()
Gore, Graham (1845): Blazer taking HMS Erebus in tow, 31 May 1845, 6PM
ink and watercolor sketch
Source: © Scott Polar Research Institute. Polar Museum, Cambridge (UK). Object ID N.1534
An introduction to the Gores of Gilmour Estate, near Lake Bathurst (Argyle, Col. New South Wales / Australia), late of Bickington, near Barnstaple (Devon, UK).
Gregory, George (c. 1860-1863): Photographic portrait of a man [Edward Gore] holding baby [Jessie Ann Gallaway (née Gore) / Graham Gore II]
Source: National Museum of Australia, Canberra. Object ID 2008.0021.0029.010 (PDM 1.0)