Voyage of HMS Blonde to the Sandwich Islands, in the Years 1824–1825

In July 1824 the king and queen of Hawaii died of measles on a state visit to England. Published in 1826, this composite work combines a brief history of Hawaii with an account of the voyage led by George Anson Byron to return the royal bodies to their native land.

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George Anson Byron (1789–1868), cousin of the famous poet, was a naval officer and the seventh Baron Byron. When the king and queen of Hawaii died of measles in July 1824 on a visit to England, Byron was chosen to lead the voyage that returned the bodies to their native land. Prepared by Maria Graham (1785–1842), known later as Lady Callcott, this work was published in 1826 and organised into two parts: the first gives a brief history of the islands, culminating in an account of the fatal visit; the second and larger part is compiled from the journals of those on board HMS Blonde. Engravings made from the drawings of the ship's artist, Robert Dampier, complement observations about the geography of Hawaii, its people and their customs. The remarkable journey home involved the first European sighting of Malden Island and the rescue of survivors from a shipwreck.