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Revision as of 10:04, 30 October 2008 view sourceJoseph20202021 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users97,222 editsm →Personal history: Change wikilink← Previous edit Revision as of 03:36, 11 November 2008 view source Gun Powder Ma (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers16,796 edits Menzies took responsibilty for the incident (see papers in link given); follow up book already cited below; what is an "amateur historian"?Next edit →
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'''Rowan Gavin Paton Menzies''' (born 1937) is a retired British submarine commander and amateur historian best known as the author of the controversial book ''],'' which asserts that ships from the Chinese fleet of ] ] traveled to the ] prior to ]' arrival in 1492 and circumnavigated the globe a century before ] as part of the era of ]. This thesis has been discounted "as nonsense"<ref name=reutersUK>Reuters UK. Tue Jul 29, 2008.</ref> by professional historians.<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 published a follow-up book in 2008 titled ''].'' '''Rowan Gavin Paton Menzies''' (born 1937) is a retired British submarine commander and writer best known as the author of the controversial book ''],'' which asserts that ships from the Chinese fleet of ] ] traveled to the ] prior to ]' arrival in 1492 and circumnavigated the globe a century before ] as part of the era of ]. This thesis has been discounted "as nonsense"<ref name=reutersUK>Reuters UK. Tue Jul 29, 2008.</ref> by professional historians.<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>


==Personal history== ==Personal history==
Menzies was born in London, England, though in his book he claims to have been born in China, which he has admitted is false. This has since been rectified in recent editions.<ref>{{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. When he was the commander of the ] ] between 1968 and 1970, Menzies claims he sailed the routes sailed by ] and Captain ]. Menzies was born in London, England, though in his book he claims to have been born in China, which he has admitted is false. This has since been rectified in recent editions.<ref>{{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. Menzies claims he sailed the routes sailed by ] and Captain ], while he was commander of the ] ] between 1968 and 1970, a contention questioned by some of his critics.<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 total damage was estimated about 6,600 US Dollars. The ensuing enquiry found one of Menzies´ 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> 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> After the incident, Menzies retired the following year.


Menzies currently resides in North London with his wife Marcella. He has been considered a ] since 2 August 1996 on the order of a ] judge, and so is forbidden from initiating civil cases without permission from the court (in England and Wales).<ref> Her Majesty's Courts Service.</ref> Menzies currently resides in North London with his wife Marcella. He has been considered a ] since 2 August 1996 on the order of a ] judge, and so is forbidden from initiating civil cases without permission from the court (in England and Wales).<ref> Her Majesty's Courts Service.</ref>
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Revision as of 03:36, 11 November 2008

Gavin Menzies
File:Gavin menzies-1-.jpg
OccupationRetired submariner, author
NationalityBritish
CitizenshipBritish
Notable works1421: The Year China Discovered the World

Rowan Gavin Paton Menzies (born 1937) is a retired British submarine commander and writer best known as the author of the controversial book 1421: The Year China Discovered the World, which asserts that ships from the Chinese fleet of admiral Zheng He traveled 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. This thesis has been discounted "as nonsense" by professional historians.

Personal history

Menzies was born in London, England, though in his book he claims to have been born in China, which he has admitted is false. This has since been rectified in recent editions. Menzies joined the Royal Navy in 1953 and served in submarines from 1959 to 1970. Menzies claims he sailed the routes sailed by Ferdinand Magellan and Captain James Cook, while he was commander of the diesel submarine HMS Rorqual between 1968 and 1970, a contention questioned by some of his critics.

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. After the incident, Menzies retired the following year.

Menzies currently resides in North London with his wife Marcella. He has been considered a vexatious litigant since 2 August 1996 on the order of a High Court of Justice judge, and so is forbidden from initiating civil cases without permission from the court (in England and Wales).

Books

  • Menzies, Gavin (2002). 1421: The Year China Discovered the World. London: Bantam Press. ISBN 0593050789.
    • American edition: Menzies, Gavin (2003). 1421: The Year China Discovered America. New York: William Morrow. ISBN 0060537639.
  • Menzies, Gavin (2008). 1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance. New York: William Morrow. ISBN 0061492175.

Footnotes

  1. Reuters UK. "Columbus debunker sets sights on Leonardo da Vinci." Tue Jul 29, 2008.
  2. "The 1421 myth exposed". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  3. "Zheng He in the Americas and Other Unlikely Tales of Exploration and Discovery". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  4. "1421: The Year China Discovered the World by Gavin Menzies". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  5. 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= (help)
  6. "Interview with Gavin Menzies". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  7. "Interview with Gavin Menzies". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  8. "Challenges to Menzies' nautical experience". Retrieved 2007-03-22.; see particularly note five of the Appendix.
  9. "Enquiry regarding the collision of the USS Endurance and Rorqual". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  10. "Vexatious litigants." Her Majesty's Courts Service.

External links

Critics

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