27th June 1898: Joshua Slocum completes the first solo circumnavigation of the globe

JUN 27 1898 · 00:01

Joshua Slocum was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, but gained American citizenship after settling in San Francisco in 1865. By this time he had already developed a deep knowledge of navigation and ship handling, and he went on to become a highly respected seaman. His decision to sail around the world alone was driven by a desire for adventure and the challenge of achieving something unprecedented. In the early 1890s Slocum meticulously rebuilt and refitted an old Massachusetts oyster boat named Spr