Rugged Island (South Shetland Islands)

[1] The island's summit San Stefano Peak rises to 256 metres (840 ft) above sea level.

Rugged Island was known to both American and British sealers as early as 1820, and the name has been well established in international usage for over 100 years.

Rugged Island was first visited in 1819 by the sealing vessel Espirito Santo chartered by English merchants in Buenos Aires, and commanded by Captain Joseph Herring.

The ship arrived at a bay on the north coast, known today as Hersilia Cove, where its English crew landed on Christmas Day 1819, and claimed the islands for King George III.

A narrative of the events was published by Captain Herring in the July 1820 edition of the Imperial Magazine, London.

Map of Byers Peninsula featuring Rugged Island
Fragment of George Powell 's 1822 chart of the South Shetland Islands and South Orkney Islands featuring Rugged Island (as 'Lloyds or Rugged Island')
Topographic map of Livingston Island and Smith Island