Pardafas Reporter
Columbia Rediviva on the Columbia River.en.wikipedia.org
When the trade between America and China started, merchants sought a commodity other than ginseng, which had a limited market, to trade in China for the tea, silks, and porcelain so much in demand at home.
Entrepreneurs groups of Boston who were inspired by tales of Captain Cook's third voyage decided there was profit to be made in trading for sea otter furs on the Northwest Coast of North America, and thence sailing to Canton to trade the furs, highly prized in China, for tea and other goods.
They financed the adventure of the ship Columbia Rediviva, commanded by Captain John Kendrick, and the sloop Lady Washington, under Robert Gray, to sail around the Horn in search of fortune. Columbia and Washington departed in September 1787.
The Columbia Rediviva returned to Boston after a 3-year journey in August 1790.
Columbia Rediviva became the first American-flagged ship to travel around the globe.
Though, This voyage was not profitable to the owners for a variety of reasons.
(From the project: Witness to America's Past)
