Three of his officers were Peter Puget, Joseph Baker, and Joseph Whidby, whose names now live in Puget Sound--Mount Baker, and Whidby Island.
The great island of British Columbia, and its energetic port city, received the name of Vancouver himself, and Vancouver named most of the places on Puget Sound in honor of his personal friends.

He must have had a heart formed for friendship, thus to have immortalized those whom he esteemed and loved.

It is the discovery and the naming of mountains, islands, and ports of the Puget Sound that suggest poetic and patriotic celebrations.
The old journals of Vancouver lie before us.

In these we read: "From this direction, round by the north and northwest, the high, distant land formed, like detached islands, among which the lofty mountains discovered in the afternoon by the third lieutenant, and in compliment to him called by me Mount Baker, rose to a very conspicuous object." It was on Monday, April 30, 1792, that Mount Baker was thus discovered and named.

In May, 1792, Vancouver states that he came to a "very safe" and "capatious" harbor, and that "to this port I gave the name of Port Townshend, in honor of the noble marquis of that name." Again, on Thursday, May 29, 1792, Vancouver discovered another excellent port, and says: "This harbor, after the gentleman who discovered it, obtained the name of Port Orchard." In May, 1792, he makes the following very important historical note: "Thus by our joint efforts we had completely explored every turning of this extensive inlet; and, to commemorate Mr.Puget's exertions, the fourth extremity of it I named Puget Sound." A very interesting officer seems to have been this lieutenant, Peter Puget, whose soundings gave the name to the American Mediterranean.