A marine chronometer used on HMS Beagle during Darwin's voyage to the Galapagos Islands has sold with excellent results at Bonhams.
 Chronometers were first carried by Captain James Cook and used by the admiralty to determine longitude, remaining accurate despite the motion of the sea |
Sold as part of the Fine Clocks Sale at Bonhams' London showrooms on December 10, the previously unrecorded chronometer - and the only one from the voyage still in private hands - made £100,900 ($158,242): up 101% on its £50,000 high estimate.
The HMS Beagle arrived at the Galapagos Islands in 1835, with Darwin collecting many specimens of its flora and fauna, resulting in his theory of evolution by natural selection.
According to Bonhams, by the time the Beagle returned to England in October 1836, Darwin had obtained more than 5,000 specimens and his notes show he was aware of the importance of his findings.
Marine chronometers are highly accurate clocks that are able to keep time despite the motion of the sea, and are used to determine longitude. This example was present on the second and third voyages of the Beagle, with the third taking the ship to the uncharted Australian coast.
There were a total of 22 chronometers on board the HMS Beagle, but only 11 completed the second voyage intact. The present chronometer was one of six personally owned by Captain Robert FitzRoy, commander of the Beagle.
"This is a fine example of a 19th century chronometer in its own right, but its association with HMS Beagle and Darwin's epic voyage makes it even more significant and desirable. It sold very strongly and we are delighted with the outcome," said Bonhams' head of clocks, James Stratton.
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