Kendrick, John

Kendrick, John, c.1740–1794, American sea captain, b. Massachusetts. During part of the American Revolution he commanded privateers. As commander of an expedition composed of the Columbia and Washington, he explored (1788–89) the Pacific Northwest Coast in the neighborhood of Nootka Sound, managing to avoid conflict with the Spanish who were there at the time. Robert Gray, later discoverer of the Columbia River, sailed with him. Kendrick also visited Japan, becoming the first to fly the American flag in a port of that country.