Career
In 1812, the British ship Isabella, captained by George Higton, was shipwrecked off Eagle Island (part of the Falkland Islands). Most of the crew were rescued by the American sealer Nanina which was built and operated out of the whaling port city of Hudson, New York, and commanded by Captain Charles Barnard. Barnard, realizing that the castaways were unaware of the War of 1812, informed the survivors that they were at war with each other, but agreed to rescue the crew.
Realizing that they would require more provisions for the expanded number of passengers, Barnard and a few others went out in a party to retrieve more food on the nearby New Island.
During his absence, the Nanina was taken over by the British crew, who left them on New Island. Barnard and his party were finally rescued by the British whalers Asp and Indispensable in November 1814.
In 1829, Barnard wrote A Narrative of the Sufferings and Adventures of Captain Charles Barnard detailing the happenings.