Voyage East:In the Footsteps of Sir John Barrow in China
Friday 8 May 2026, 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Venue
BLN - Elizabeth Livingston LT - View MapOpen to
All Lancaster University (non-partner) students, Alumni, Applicants, External Organisations, Postgraduates, Prospective International Students, Prospective Postgraduate Students, Prospective Undergraduate Students, Public, Staff, UndergraduatesRegistration
Free to attend - registration requiredRegistration Info
In order to cater for refreshments (from 6.00pm-6.30pm), please register with Try Bookings Voyage East: In the footsteps of Sir John Barrow in China Tickets, Elizabeth Livingston Lecture Theatre, Bowland North, Lancaster | TryBooking United Kingdom
Event Details
A documentary screening and Q&A session with the director Steve Wharton. In 1793, John Barrow set out from Ulverston, Cumbria, as a key member of the first British Embassy to China. His mission: to secure the future of British trade. It was a journey that would change the map of the world.
While his career began with diplomacy in the East, Barrow’s influence eventually spanned the globe. As Permanent Secretary of the Admiralty and a founder of the Royal Geographical Society, he became the architect of British exploration—launching historic expeditions to Africa, Antarctica, and the Northwest Passage.
This film retraces Barrow’s original steps through Vietnam and China, exploring the life of the man who chronicled the Mutiny on the Bounty and steered the course of the Great Age of Discovery.
Speaker
Steve Wharton is originally from Ulverston. He lived in China for many years and has recently returned to the UK.
Gallery
Image of historical ship and customs house
Contact Details
| Name | Colette Webb |
| Website |