Career

In the early 1800s Winship was Captain of the Winship family"s O"Cain trading vessel on all but its first voyage (when he was first mate), trading across the Pacific. Winship is credited with the first recorded entry into Humboldt Bay by sea, in June 1806. Winship Point and O"Cain Point in the South Shetland Islands are named for Winship and his vessel.

The War of 1812 led Winship to seek refuge in China, where he acquired horticultural skills.