 John Meares claimed that she was the first non-native vessel to circumnavigate Vancouver Island.Named in honor of Martha Washington, she was captained during the American Revolutionary War by Naler Hatch, and post war by Robert Gray, and John Kendrick, former captain of her larger sailing partner, "Columbia Rediviva" and commander of the expedition.At the end of the first trading season, Kendrick ordered Gray to sail "Columbia" to China, while Kendrick took command of "Lady Washington" .