Customer Reviews
Wasn't he the captain of Darwin's ship? - By: gronow, 11 Jun 2007 
And that about covers it for most people. Well Darwin was extremely lucky that he was second choice as a companion for the Captain of the Beagle who was setting off to survey the seas around Cape Horn. Darwin gave fair credit to Fitzroy but probably didn't appreciate he was priviledged to sail with one of our great seamen. This book is not the first to extoll the virtues of Capt. FitzRoy but for the general reader may well be the best. The authors' credentials are such that they could well have submerged the man under the minutae of his 'trade' but not at alll.
The book is written in an engaging style, almost avuncular in parts (with apologies to Mary Gribbin as I do not know the equivalent feminine word) but in no way patronising. In fact you almost wonder if you are going to be asked for your opinion at times.
What I am trying to imply is that the book is so well written you are not aware until afterwards just how much you have learnt from it. When you have read this book for you FitzRoy will no longer be under Darwin's shadow. You will be able to join the ranks of those who see him as a great man in his own rights.
What the ludicrous ban on mercury will imply for the preservation of his barometers only underlines the fact that the daftness of politicians has not lessened one wit from the days of the good captain.
I commend the opinions of the other reviewers.
FitzRoy - not merely captain of the 'Beagle' - By: M. Muir, 16 May 2006 Robert FitzRoy's contribution to science, exploration & humanity was never fully acknowledged in his lifetime. Nor were the half million hand-written words he transcribed about his survey work & voyages. Being the Captain of HMS Beagle which carried amongst its scientific crew the young, Charles Darwin, Fitzroy's work, when published was dwarfed by the publication of Darwin's 'Origin of the Species'. It was as recently as 2002 that Fitroy was acknowledged for the invention & instigation of a weatherforcasting system - a system which at the time of its first presentation to British Parliament was received with laugher in the House.
I purchased 'Fitzroy' by John & Mary Gribbin because I love talll ship adventures & I wanted to retrace a voyage I took to the nether regions on South America. I found 'FitzRoy' to be far more than a sea story. It is not only a well researched biography of a truly remarkable man, but a page-turning narrative of sailing & survey work in uncharted, inhospitable territories. 'FitzRoy' is an intriguing adventure & travelogue rolled into one.
This review is based on the hardback version.
A skilful work about a brilliant man. - By: Morag Hutchinson, 28 Aug 2003 Most people know the story of Darwin's travels, & the discoveries that led to his great theory. But few people know about the man who captained the ship - & so much more. This is in a way a science book - but only in a way. It is also an adventure story which reallly brought to life for me a time & a way of thinking. As skilfully written as an adventure story, & yet deadly informative too about the era & about a fascinating man. I Loved It!
A man of many parts - By: Charlie T., 27 Jun 2003 I bought this book because I knew Robert Fitzroy was the Captain of the Beagle when Charles Darwin sailed round the world. I didn't know how much else he did -- governor of New Zealnd, inventor of weather forecasting, & so much else. He comes across as a real person, a man of integrity but tortured by self-doubts, who achieved so much. The book gives a real feel for Fitzroy as a person & his life & ultimately tragic times in Victorian England. It's as good as reading Patrick O'Brien, but its alll true! Easily John Griobbin's best book, perhaps thanks to the influence of his co-author.
Charles Hardin
