Pitt Islands
Pitt Islands are a group of small islands lying immediately off the N extremity of Renaud Island, at the north end of the Biscoe Islands.
The name "Pitt's Island" was applied by John Biscoe in 1832 to an island which he erroneously charted as lying about 25 miles west-north-west of these islands. He named the isle after for William Pitt the Younger, the late Prime Minister.
The present application of Pitt Islands is based on the interpretation of the British Graham Land Expedition under Rymill, who charted the island group in 1935–36.
The islands in this group have been named after characters for the Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens, and include:
- Bardell Rock: (65°20’4"S, 65°23’53"W) after Mrs Bardell
- Fizkin Island: (65°31’15"S, 65°30’23"W) after Horatio Fizkin Esq.
- Jingle Island: (65°25’20"S, 65°18’53"W) after Alfred Jingle, a strolling actor
- Jinks Island: (65°23’9"S, 65°36’33"W) after Mr Jinks
- Nupkins Island: (65°26’38"S, 65°40’43"W) after George Nupkins Esq.
- Pickwick Island: (65°29’30"S, 65°37’49"W) after Samuel Pickwick himself
- Sawyer Island: (65°26’14"S, 65°32’2"W) after Robert Sawyer
- Slumkey Island: (65°29’48"S, 65°26’51"W) after the Honourable Samuel Slumkey
- Smiggers Island: (65°27’36"S, 65°21’2"W) after Joseph Smiggers Esq.
- Snodgrass Island: (65°26’35"S, 65°28’22"W) after Augustus Snodgrass
- Snubbin Island: (65°29’16"S, 65°48’49"W) after Mr Snubbin, Serjeant-at-Law
- Trundle Island: (65°23’38"S, 65°17’19"W) after Mr Trundle
- Tupman Island: (65°29’18"S, 65°31’43"W) after Mr Tracy Tupman Esq.
- Weller Island: (65°26’47"S, 65°23’24"W) after Samuel Weller, Mr Pickwick's servant
- Winkle Island: (65°31’5"S, 65°37’53"W) after Nathaniel Winkle
- Dickens Rocks: (65°18’18"S, 65°24’32"W), not after a character, but after the author
Location
- Location map: 65°25’53"S, 65°25’58"W
References
- Gazetteer and Map of The British Antarctic Territory: Pitt Islands
- 'Dudley naval officer Dave Pitt visits namesake Antarctic islands': BBC News 10 February 2022