18 January

January 18 1788 – The First Fleet Arrives in Botany Bay, Australia

January 18 1788 – The First Fleet Arrives in Botany Bay, Australia3.3 (66.67%) 3 votes A small English ship more than 10,000 miles from home slipped into Botany Bay on January 18, 1788 intent on bringing the most detestable of British society to the country Captain James Cook discovered nearly two decades before. The HMS Supply, scouting the shores in the horseshoe-shaped bay, was the advance party for an 11-ship convoy looking to establish the prison colony of Australia. By the middle of the 18th century, Britain was experiencing a population boom. Fueled by the discovery of modern practices of crop rotation and a vast increase in the production capacity […]

January 18 1997 – Norwegian Adventurer Børge Ousland Completes The First Solo Crossing of Antarctica

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January 18 1997 – Norwegian Adventurer Børge Ousland Completes The First Solo Crossing of AntarcticaRate this post On January 18, 1997, Norwegian adventurer and polar explorer Børge Ousland completed the first solo crossing of Antarctica battling his way through the extremely harsh terrain on foot and on skis for 64 days. The explorer was the very first to make this arduous journey alone – unaided by a team or by other companions. On November 15, 1996, Ousland set out with three other adventurers – each wanting to make it alone and set the record. While British explorer, Sir Ranulph Twistleton-Wykeham-Fiennes dropped out of the mission sometime in December, having been […]