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| '''Gavin Menzies''' (born 1937) is a retired British submarine commander best known as the author of the controversial 2002 book ''],'' which asserts that ships from the Chinese fleet of ] ] travelled to the ] prior to ]' arrival in 1492 and circumnavigated the globe a century before ] as part of the era of ]. |
'''Gavin Menzies''' (born 1937) is a retired British submarine commander best known as the author of the controversial 2002 history book ''],'' which asserts that ships from the Chinese fleet of ] ] travelled to the ] prior to ]' arrival in 1492 and circumnavigated the globe a century before ] as part of the era of ]. The research of Menzies is currently being further studied and evaluated by <ref name=reutersUK>Reuters UK. Tue Jul 29, 2008.</ref> by professional historians, of which the response is divided, with some dismissing his thesis and other academics supporting it. The final resolution of Gavin Menzies discoveries is currently dependent on further historical and archaeological research.<ref>{{cite web | title = The 1421 myth exposed | url = http://www.1421exposed.com/ | accessdate = 2007-03-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Zheng He in the Americas and Other Unlikely Tales of Exploration and Discovery | url = http://www.csicop.org/sb/2004-09/tales.html | accessdate = 2007-03-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = 1421: The Year China Discovered the World by Gavin Menzies | url = http://www.asianreviewofbooks.com/arb/article.php?article=201 | accessdate = 2007-03-22}}</ref><ref name="finlay2004">{{cite journal | last = Finlay | first = Robert | title = | journal = ] | volume = 15 | issue = 2 | year = 2004}}</ref> Menzies also wrote '']'' in 2008, which generated a similar response from historians. | ||
| Menzies |
Menzies had previously lived in China beginning at the young age of 3 weeks old.<ref name=4corners>{{cite web |title = Interview with Gavin Menzies| url = http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2006/s1702333.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = Interview with Gavin Menzies| url = http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2006/s1702333.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-22}}</ref> Menzies joined the ] in 1953 and served in submarines from 1959 to 1970. During this time, utilizing his advanced knowledge of naval navigation, Menzies retraced the historical routes sailed by ] and Captain ], while he was ] of the ] ] between 1968 and 1970.<ref>{{cite web | title = Challenges to Menzies' nautical experience | url = http://www.1421exposed.com/html/library_of_congress.html | accessdate = 2007-03-22}}; see particularly note five of the Appendix.</ref> | ||
| In 1969 in the Philippines, HMS ''Rorqual'' rammed a ] ], the ] which was moored at a pier. This collision punched a hole in USS ''Endurance'' but did not damage HMS ''Rorqual''. The ensuing enquiry found Menzies and one of his subordinates responsible for a combination of factors that led to the accident, including the absence of the coxswain (who usually takes the helm in port) who had been replaced by a less experienced crew member, and technical issues with the boat's telegraph.<ref>{{cite web | title = Enquiry regarding the collision of the USS ''Endurance'' and ''Rorqual'' | url = http://www.ussendurance.org/Rorqurl%20incident.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-22}}</ref><ref name=4corners></ref> Menzies retired the following year, and stood unsuccessfully against ] as an ] candidate in ] during the ].<ref>{{cite newspaper The Times|articlename=Immigrant girl will vote in despair—Powellism |author=Peter Evans |section=News |day_of_week=Friday |date=5 June 1970 |page_number=9 |issue=57888 |column=C }}</ref> | In 1969 in the Philippines, HMS ''Rorqual'' rammed a ] ], the ] which was moored at a pier. This collision punched a hole in USS ''Endurance'' but did not damage HMS ''Rorqual''. The ensuing enquiry found Menzies and one of his subordinates responsible for a combination of factors that led to the accident, including the absence of the coxswain (who usually takes the helm in port) who had been replaced by a less experienced crew member, and technical issues with the boat's telegraph.<ref>{{cite web | title = Enquiry regarding the collision of the USS ''Endurance'' and ''Rorqual'' | url = http://www.ussendurance.org/Rorqurl%20incident.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-22}}</ref><ref name=4corners></ref> Menzies retired the following year, and stood unsuccessfully against ] as an ] candidate in ] during the ].<ref>{{cite newspaper The Times|articlename=Immigrant girl will vote in despair—Powellism |author=Peter Evans |section=News |day_of_week=Friday |date=5 June 1970 |page_number=9 |issue=57888 |column=C }}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 20:54, 16 February 2010
| Rowan Gavin Paton Menzies | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1953-1970 |
| Rank | Commander |
| Commands | HMS Rorqual |
| Other work | Author of- 1421: The Year China Discovered the World (2002) 1421: The Year China Discovered America (2003) 1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance (2008) |
Gavin Menzies (born 1937) is a retired British submarine commander best known as the author of the controversial 2002 history book 1421: The Year China Discovered the World, which asserts that ships from the Chinese fleet of admiral Zheng He travelled to the Americas prior to Christopher Columbus' arrival in 1492 and circumnavigated the globe a century before Ferdinand Magellan as part of the era of Chinese exploration. The research of Menzies is currently being further studied and evaluated by by professional historians, of which the response is divided, with some dismissing his thesis and other academics supporting it. The final resolution of Gavin Menzies discoveries is currently dependent on further historical and archaeological research. Menzies also wrote 1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance in 2008, which generated a similar response from historians.
Menzies had previously lived in China beginning at the young age of 3 weeks old. Menzies joined the Royal Navy in 1953 and served in submarines from 1959 to 1970. During this time, utilizing his advanced knowledge of naval navigation, Menzies retraced the historical routes sailed by Ferdinand Magellan and Captain James Cook, while he was commander of the diesel submarine HMS Rorqual between 1968 and 1970.
In 1969 in the Philippines, HMS Rorqual rammed a U.S. Navy minesweeper, the USS Endurance, which was moored at a pier. This collision punched a hole in USS Endurance but did not damage HMS Rorqual. The ensuing enquiry found Menzies and one of his subordinates responsible for a combination of factors that led to the accident, including the absence of the coxswain (who usually takes the helm in port) who had been replaced by a less experienced crew member, and technical issues with the boat's telegraph. Menzies retired the following year, and stood unsuccessfully against Enoch Powell as an independent candidate in Wolverhampton South West during the United Kingdom general election 1970.
Menzies currently resides in North London with his wife Marcella.
References
- Ptak, Roderich; Salmon, Claudine (2005), "Zheng He: Geschichte und Fiktion", in Ptak, Roderich; Höllmann, Thomas O. (eds.), Zheng He. Images & Perceptions, South China and Maritime Asia, vol. 15, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, pp. 9–35
Footnotes
- Reuters UK. "Columbus debunker sets sights on Leonardo da Vinci." Tue Jul 29, 2008.
- "The 1421 myth exposed". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- "Zheng He in the Americas and Other Unlikely Tales of Exploration and Discovery". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- "1421: The Year China Discovered the World by Gavin Menzies". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- Finlay, Robert (2004). "How Not to (Re)Write World History: Gavin Menzies and the Chinese Discovery of America". Journal of World History. 15 (2).
{{cite journal}}: External link in|title= - ^ "Interview with Gavin Menzies". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- "Interview with Gavin Menzies". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- "Challenges to Menzies' nautical experience". Retrieved 2007-03-22.; see particularly note five of the Appendix.
- "Enquiry regarding the collision of the USS Endurance and Rorqual". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- Peter Evans (5 June 1970). "Immigrant girl will vote in despair—Powellism". News. The Times. No. 57888. London. col C, p. 9. template uses deprecated parameter(s) (help)
External links
Critics
- 1421 Exposed - Website set up by an international group of academics and researchers
- Finlay, Robert (2004). "How Not to (Re)Write World History: Gavin Menzies and the Chinese Discovery of America". Journal of World History 15 (2) - Scholarly review of Menzies
- Gavin's Fantasy Land, 1421
- A critical view of Menzies' story
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation's FOUR CORNERS Program Transcript of "Junk History"