Western Lake District
The Beacon
Whitehaven has many strong historical links with America.
Sir John Lowther (1642 - 1705) was the man primarily responsible for the development of the town and port of Whitehaven which was based on the flourishing coal trade. The potential of the New World was soon realised and by the end of the 17th century tobacco was being imported from Virginia by a small number of influential tobacco traders, including the Gale family. George Washington's grandmother married into this family and moved to Whitehaven.
Learn about the famous of John Paul Jones, founder of the American Navy, who carried out the last raid on mainland Britain during the War of Independence. He had served his naval apprenticeship in Whitehaven, and therefore had a good working knowledge of the harbour and its fortifications. |
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