Palmer, Nathaniel Brown, 1799–1877, American sea captain and antarctic explorer, b. Stonington, Conn. While on a whaling voyage (1820–21) in the South Shetlands, he commanded the Hero on an exploring trip to the south and came back with a report that he had sighted land. Hence the name Palmer Land for the peninsula later named Graham Land by the British and known as Palmer Peninsula, Graham Land, or Graham Coast. On this expedition Palmer also discovered the South Orkney Islands. He was well known as a commander and designer of clipper ships.
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