What was wanted was a companion for a gentleman on his travels.
The gentleman in question was a young naval officer, Captain Robert FitzRoy, master of HMS Beagle, en route to South America and places beyond. FitzRoy quite sensibly felt that there was not much sparkling conversation to be had from the ship’s crew, and it would be a long voyage.
In 1831 FitzRoy, aged 25, was appointed master of the ...
