and named after him the Furneaux Group at the eastern entrance to Bass Strait, and the group now known as the Low Archipelago. After Adventure was finally separated from Resolution off New Zealand in October 1773, Furneaux returned home alone, bringing with him Omai of Ulaietea (Raiatea). This first South Sea Islander to travel to Great Britain returned to Tahiti with Cook on 12 August 1777. Also of note is that Furneaux successfully introduced domestic animals and potatoes into the South Sea Islands. Later commands Furneaux was made a navigator in 1775. During the American War of Independence, he commanded HMS Syren in the British attack of 28 June 1776 upon Charleston, South Carolina. Syren, with Furneaux in command, was wrecked near Point Judith, Rhode Island on 6 November 1777. The Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP) has published a detailed history of the Syrens activities in the American War of Independence, as well as some of the original documents related to her loss, confirming 6 November as the correct date. By 10 November Furneaux and his crew were prisoners in Providence, Rhode Island, awaiting later exchange. RIMAP has also noted that the Syren is one of at least five ships associated with Captain Cook and his circumnavigating men with an historical connection to the State of Rhode Island. Taxon named in his honor The Furneaux scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis furneauxi''''' is a species of venomous marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes that was named after him. Furneaux died unmarried in 1781 and was buried in Stoke Damerel Church where he had been christened. See also European and American voyages of scientific exploration Notes Footnotes Citations References External links 1735 births 1781 deaths Military personnel from Plymouth, Devon English explorers Circumnavigators of the globe Explorers of Australia English explorers of the Pacific Royal Navy officers James Cook British navigators Furneaux Group Royal Navy personnel of the American Revolutionary War