
Luke Batterham
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The first edition of the official account of Anson's circumnavigation of the world, which has "long occupied a distinguished position as a masterpiece of descriptive travel" (Hill). The expedition was undertaken to attack Spanish possessions in South America at the outbreak of war between Britain and Spain in 1739. During the mission six of Anson's fleet were sunk and approximately one thousand crew were lost to scurvy. Despite such setbacks Anson and his fleet succeeded in thwarting enemy activities in the Pacific and successfully captured the Manila galleon.