Lot Essay
Painted in Hawaii in December 1843
Aying arrived in Honolulu at the end of 1843, on H.M.S. Champion, under the command of Admiral Thomas. He struck up a friendship with John Harbottle, the son of one of Hawaii's earliest foreign settlers. Harbottle senior had arrived in Honolulu as mate aboard the English trader the Jackall in 1792. He subsequently captained the Lelia Byrd for Kamehameha I, and was one of the principal foreigners who assured the King's rise to power, particularly in the crucial battle of Oahu in 1795. Rewarded with land for his service, he became a permanent resident of Hawaii, married a Hawaiian woman of high rank, and was appointed by the King as harbourmaster. Several sons followed in his seafaring activities, acting as navigators and mates on various ships owned by the King
Aying arrived in Honolulu at the end of 1843, on H.M.S. Champion, under the command of Admiral Thomas. He struck up a friendship with John Harbottle, the son of one of Hawaii's earliest foreign settlers. Harbottle senior had arrived in Honolulu as mate aboard the English trader the Jackall in 1792. He subsequently captained the Lelia Byrd for Kamehameha I, and was one of the principal foreigners who assured the King's rise to power, particularly in the crucial battle of Oahu in 1795. Rewarded with land for his service, he became a permanent resident of Hawaii, married a Hawaiian woman of high rank, and was appointed by the King as harbourmaster. Several sons followed in his seafaring activities, acting as navigators and mates on various ships owned by the King