F5451-001

Double Frame Bridge Sextant Long Caption: Captain (later Admiral) Robert Fitzroy, the original owner, commanded the survey vessel ‘Beagle’ on two major voyages, from 1828-1830 and 1831-1836. John Lort Stokes (1812-1885) served under Fitzroy on both and himself became a notable surveyor. Perhaps Fitzroy presented this instrument because 1834 marked the tenth anniversary of Stokes’s entry to the Navy. It remained in his family until purchased as part of the Lort Stokes collection, in 1960. The serial number ‘2029’ indicates the year of manufacture as being around 1831, which suggests that Fitzroy bought it for the second ‘Beagle’ voyage, during which he gave it to Stokes. Edward Troughton patented the pillar and plate frame (no. 1644 of 1788). Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London Object: NAV1174 Artist: Worthington & Allan Date: circa 1831 Medium: silver; brass; wood, leather; glass Size: Overall: 125 mm x 330 mm x 300 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.