A new stone has been placed on the grave of Thomas Edgar, lieutenant on Cook’s Third Voyage, on the 200th anniversary of his death.

The stone was presented by Roy and Sue Strangeway of Romney Marsh Funeral Service and placed on the grave at All Saints’ Church, Lydd, Kent.

At the end of the voyage Edgar became a signal officer at Dungeness.

He lived in Hythe until his death in 1801 at the age of 56.

The old gravestone was broken last year, so it has been moved into the North Chapel for safe-keeping. Rev. Stephen Hardy of All Saints’ said “People still come from far afield to look at it, and I think Thomas would be a bit surprised at his lasting fame.”

A poem on his original gravestone reads:

Tom Edgar at last has sailed out of this world, 
His shroud is put on and his topsails are furl’d 
He lies in death’s boat without any concern, 
And is moor’d for a full due ahead and astern, 
Ov’r the compass of life he has merrily run, 
His voyage is completed his reckoning is done.

From information supplied by Harry Ward

Originally published in Cook's Log, page 1882, volume 24, number 4 (2001).