He entered the American navy at an early age and in 1838 was made commander of the squadron which spent four years in sailing through the Pacific, along its American coasts and in the Antarctic regions.
Before giving an account of this memorable scientific expedition, let me add a little more information concerning this distinguished naval officer, since this is the only chapter which contains any reference to him.

He was made a captain in 1855.

In the month of November, 1861, while in command of the steamer _San Jacinto_, he stopped the British ship _Trent_ and forcibly took off the two Confederate commissioners, Mason and Slidell, who were on their way respectively to England and France to secure their aid for the Southern Confederacy.
Captain Wilkes was highly applauded for his act by his countrymen, but England was very indignant.

It was an illegal proceeding on his part, since the deck of a ship is the same as the soil of the country whose flag she flies.

Our Government was compelled to disavow his action and restore the commissioners to English custody.
In the War for the Union Captain Wilkes commanded the James River squadron, was made commodore in 1862 and was retired in 1864 and made rear-admiral on the retired list.
[Illustration: THE "SAN JACINTO" STOPPING THE "TRENT."] The scientific expedition of which Lieutenant Wilkes was given command was intended, to quote the words of Congress, "for the purpose of exploring and surveying the southern ocean, as well to determine the existence of all doubtful islands and shoals as to discover and accurately fix the position of those which lie in or near the track of our vessels in that quarter and may have escaped the observation of scientific navigators." Lieutenant Wilkes sailed from Hampton Roads on the 19th of August, 1838, his flagship being the 18-gun sloop-of-war _Vincennes_, the 18-gun sloop-of-war _Peacock_, the 12-gun brig-of-war _Porpoise_, the storeship _Relief_, the tender _Sea Gull_ and the tender _Flying Fish_.