George Vancouver was born in England in 1757. After joining the the Royal Navy in 1771, Vancouver served as a midshipman in the service of Captain James Cook during Cook's second and third voyages.

In 1790, he was promoted to commander of the ship Discovery. He led an expedition to Australia, New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands from 1791-1792 and then came to the Pacific coast of North America, where he explored the coast from San Fransisco to Southern Alaska.

His mission was to take control of Nootka Sound, and receive the surrender of a Spanish post there. He was also to survey the coast and look for a passage through to the eastern part of the country.

Vancouver circumnavigated the coast of Vancouver Island, and then mapped the Pacific coast of B.C. between 1792 and 1794. He had kept a detailed account of his expeditions, and had also made a number of maps. "A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and Round the World" was published in 1798 and contained his collection of maps and writings. Unfortunately, he never lived to see it published; he died that same year.