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Pollard's Early Career
- George Pollard Jr., born in 1791, became captain of the Essex at a young age.
- His father was also a ship captain, highlighting a family tradition of whaling.
Experienced vs. Inexperienced Crew
- The Essex crew consisted of experienced Nantucketers and inexperienced men from Cape Cod and Boston.
- The Nantucketers called the inexperienced crew members "greenhands."
The First Squall
- Two days into their voyage, the Essex encountered a squall, almost sinking.
- They lost two whaleboats and damaged a third, highlighting the immediate dangers of whaling.