Admiral Sir George Somers - Founder of Bermuda Colony - St. George, Bermuda
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neoc1
N 32° 22.917 W 064° 40.568
20S E 342330 N 3584008
A plaque on an obelisk honors the memory of its founder Admiral Sir George Somers, on the 300th anniversary of the settlement of Bermuda. It's located at the entrance to Somers' Garden on Duke of York Street in St. George Bermuda.
Waymark Code: WMMQ1Z
Location: Bermuda
Date Posted: 10/23/2014
Views: 4
A 20' high obelisk made of stone blocks has a plaque which honors the memory of its founder Admiral Sir George Somers and the 300th anniversary of the settlement of Bermuda.
In 1609, Sir George Somers was appointed as Admiral of the Virginia Company's Third Supply relief fleet and was sent to the Jamestown colony in present day Virginia. On June 2, 1609, he sailed from Plymouth, England on the Sea Venture, the flagship of the seven-ship fleet. The ships encounter a storm on July 25th and were separated. The Sea Venture began to leak rapidly. On July 28th he spotted land, what is now Bermuda. He had to purposely drive his ship on a reef to prevent it from sinking. All of the 150 people on board were able to safely reach shore.
While ashore, the crew and passengers built a church and houses. This was the beginning of the settlement of Bermuda colony. Admiral Somers oversaw the construction of two small ships, the Deliverance and the Patience, from local timber and the wreckage of the Sea venture. They then and sailed to the original destination, the Jamestown Colony, to deliver much needed supplies. Thus enabling the survival of the colony.
The plaque contains a bas-relief sculpture of Admiral Sir George Somers above his ship the Sea Venture which is shown foundering on a reef. Below is the following inscription:
1609 - 1909
IN COMMEMORATION OF THE
SETTLEMENT OF THESE ISLANDS
ON THE 28TH DAY OF JULY 1609
AND
IN HONOR OF ADMIRAL
SIR GEORGE SOMERS KT.
AT WHOSE INSTANCE LARGELY
THE SETTLEMENT WAS EFFECTED
THIS MEMORIAL
HAS BEEN ERECTED OUT OF A
GRANT MADE BY THE LEGISLATURE
OF THIS COLONY