About John Adams
John Adams comes from a seafaring family where all the men went to sea, serving on merchant ships, deep-sea trawlers, or whalers.
John lives in Perth, Western Australia, where he manages Fremantle Boat School.
He is also the author of How to use an Echo Sounder/Fish Finder and has written a number of articles for Australian publications.
John runs echo sounder workshops throughout Western Australia and is available to write articles, give talks and attend seminars, boat shows and fishing clubs or events.
For more information contact John Adams 0405 209 101 (all hours) or email john@fremantleboatschool.com.au
How the Port of Fremantle got its name.
Admiral Sir Charles Howe Fremantle
The Port of Fremantle was named after Admiral Sir Charles Howe Fremantle, a distinguished British Royal Naval Captain.
Captain Fremantle was the son of Vice – Admiral Sir Thomas Francis Fremantle, who fought at the battle of Copenhagen and Trafalgar.
Born on 1 June 1800, he was given the second name of Howe in commemoration of Lord Howe’s victory over the French on 1 June 1794. On his 29th birthday he participated in the founding of the new Swan River colony in Western Australia.
Entering the navy at the early age of 12, Fremantle first distinguished himself by being the first recipient of the gold medal for gallantry for saving lives from a shipwreck, awarded by the Royal National Life Boat Institute. Fremantle, a Commander in the Coast Guards at the time, swam through heavy surf with a line to a Swedish brig off Christchurch, Hampshire. Five years later he was appointed to the HMS Challenger and ordered to take possession of the western coast of New Holland (Western Australia).
In the Crimean War he was in charge of shipping in Balaclava Harbour. He commanded the English Channel Fleet from inception in July 1858 to September 1860, and was appointed Commander-in-Chief in 1861. He received the Grand Cross of the Order of Bath, and died in 1869.
Captain Fremantle arrived off Garden Island on 25th April 1829 and entered Cockburn Sound on 27th April. The Union Jack was hoisted 2nd May and possession was taken of the whole west coast of New Holland, in the name of His Britannic Majesty. (Captain Fremantle dairy).
The passage between Garden and Carnac Island is named Challenger Passage after Captain Fremantle’s ship HMS Challenger. This is a great pink snapper spot!