William Brock and George Pollard
Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts
Marker Inscription
Built by Capt William Brock in 1760. Later owned by Capt George Pollard, Junr of the whaling ship "Essex." Herman Melville spoke to Capt Pollard whose story was the basis for "Moby Dick"
The Story
This Nantucket house was built in 1760 by Captain William Brock, during the island's rise as the whaling capital of the world. It later belonged to Captain George Pollard, Jr., who commanded the whaleship Essex — rammed and sunk by a sperm whale in 1820, stranding its crew on the open Pacific. Herman Melville later met Pollard, and the Essex disaster helped inspire 'Moby-Dick.'
Why it matters
It links the hard, global industry of American whaling to one of the nation's greatest works of literature.
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Related people
- · William Brock
- · George Pollard, Jr.
- · Herman Melville
Related events
- · Sinking of the whaleship Essex
Themes & tags
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