Hunt For Aitkin's Rock
Aitkin's Rock was a supposed rock in the North Atlantic. Despite being observed and named by a merchant, it had not been reliably charted, and expeditions, by HMS Gannet in 1824; HMS Harrier and HMS Badger in 1827; and HMS Pylades and HMS Dispatch had all failed to locate it. In the summer of 1830, the Admiralty placed Vidal in command of HMS Onyx and HMS Leveret and ordered him to investigate. There had been at least seven separate reports of the potential hazard, said to be small and protruding only about four feet from the water. Francis Beaufort worked out a rough position for the rock and Vidal set out to investigate. He spent six weeks charting the supposed locations and all of the positions in between, without discovering any evidence. Satisfied that the rock was a mere vigia, he returned to port. During his surveys in search of the rock, he discovered and charted Vidal bank, and the next year became the first to accurately chart and describe Rockall.
Read more about this topic: Alexander Thomas Emeric Vidal
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