John McCluer

John McCluer was a Scottish hydrographer who rose to the rank of captain in the Bombay Marine. Between 1785 and 1787 he surveyed Muscat and Matruh harbours at the entrance to the Gulf of Oman. In 1787 he was ordered to survey the bank of soundings off Bombay, which he did so thoroughly that his charts remained practically as he left them for nearly seventy years. In 1790 he was appointed to command a small expedition to the Pelew Islands, with the double object of surveying and establishing friendly relations with the natives. he made a new plan of the cove of Muscat, whence considerable trade was then carried on to China and India, as well as to Bussorah and the various ports in the Gulf of Oman. In 1786–1787, in the intervals of his regular duty, he completed a survey of the Persian Gulf. Some of the results were incorporated by James Horsburgh in his East India Directory. The Panther and Endeavour, vessels belonging to the East India Company's marine establishment at Bombay, were fitted for this service, under the command of Captain McClure. On 23 August, McCluer set out in the Panther, with the Endeavour, under Lieutenant William Drummond, as companion ship, reaching the Pelew Islands on 21 January 1791,

On 12 February, McCluer embarked, in the Panther, on a supply trip to China, and was accompanied by three significant islander youths: the adopted son, Kokiuaki, and daughter of Abba Thulle, and another young girl. He describes "he King ordering his own brother Arrakoker with his State canoe to go and fetch them on board".

During their stay at Macao, the natives were inoculated with the small-pox. and thus the Panther 's journals were transmitted home. According to Laughton, "McCluer carried out the survey with his accustomed ability". Wedgeborough finally supplied him with arms and other necessaries from the ship's stores, and left him.

Charts A few of the charts resulting from McCluer's labours were: The coast of Malabar, Coromandel and Ceylon; The Senhate Islands and reef (Laccadivhs); Tracks of HMS Endeavour and Panther, from the east-end of Java to New Guinea; Pellew Islands; Sulu Archipelago; Coast of Arabia from the Curia Muria Islands; Port of San Pio Quinto (Philippines).

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