Captain Henry Roberts was born in 1756, according to family tradition, in Shoreham, Sussex, on the south coast of England. [See Cook’s Log, page 1113, vol. 18, no. 1 (1995)]

Until he followed his father to sea at the age of 15, he lived with his family in Star Lane, now Church Street. Whilst serving under Cook on his Second and Third Voyages, he developed his skills as a painter, surveyor and chart maker. He died in 1796, Captain of Undaunted in the West Indies, where he caught yellow fever.

A blue plaque to commemorate the life of this man was unveiled on 13th July, 2000 at his former house, now no. 18.

CCSU member Neil Luck and Stanley Hobson, both descendants of the Roberts family, performed the unveiling. Several

CCSU members were amongst those present to watch the unveiling, which was organised by the Shoreham Society and the West Sussex County Council.

Ian Boreham

Originally published in Cook's Log, page 1771, volume 23, number 4 (2000).