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Thomas Manby was born in 1769. He joined the Royal Navy in 1783 and was appointed to accompany Captain George Vancouver on his voyage to the North Pacific Ocean and the Pacific Northwest in 1790. The purpose of this voyage was to carry the Nootka treaty into effect, to go to the Sandwich Islands and then the Northwest Coast, there to examine all the European settlements, explore the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and investigate the story of the "Washington's" having circumnavigated Vancouver Island. The expedition departed with two ships, the Discovery and the Chatham. Manby was first a mate on the Discovery and was later appointed the master of the Chatham.

The expedition proceeded to the Cape of Good Hope. They entered the Indian Ocean on August 17, 1791 and stopped at New Holland, New Zealand, and Otahita Island, en route to the Sandwich Islands. They then sailed to the Pacific Northwest in search of a Northwest Passage, explored the Northwest Coast, including the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Port Discovery, Nootka Sound and Karakakooah Bay. The voyage was completed in 1795. Manby was later commissioned and rose to the rank of Rear Admiral. He died in 1834.