Joseph Gilbert (Royal Navy officer)

Joseph Gilbert (1732–1831) was a British naval officer who was Master of HMS Resolution on the second voyage of Captain James Cook.

He was then chosen, at the relatively advanced age of 40, by Captain James Cook to be Master of HMS Resolution for his second voyage of discovery.

This took place between 1772 and 1775 with the primary objective of locating Terra Australis Incognita, a continent which was presumed to lie in the southern Pacific.

As a capable surveyor and draughtsman Gilbert produced several finely drawn charts on the voyage.

On retirement from seagoing duties, Gilbert served as a Lieutenant from 1776 to 1791 as Master Attendant at Sheerness, Woolwich and then Portsmouth Dockyard .

Resolution and Adventure in Matavai Bay on the north coast of Tahiti , painted by William Hodges