Captain T. Alexander made the first systematic survey of the west coast of southern Africa. He was despatched in HMS Star by Commodore J. Blankett, commander at the Cape after its first annexation by the British in 1795. Leaving on 5 December that year Alexander made a rapid survey of the coast from St Helena Bay (33º S) to southern Angola (16º S), reaching his northern limit on 20 January 1796. His report was entitled Remarks on board His Majesty's Sloop Star on a cruise along the Western coast of Africa (1795). Of the names he gave to coastal features only Spencer Bay has survived. It is situated north of Luderitz, Namibia, and was named after Earl Spencer, then First Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty. Alexander took posession of various places along the coast in the name of King George III, but his claims were regarded as invalid as he failed to comply with prevailing standards of international law. He compiled a description of the whole coast, with latitudes, longitudes and soundings, as well as plans of Angra Pequena (Lüderitz Bay) and Spencer Bay, for the newly established Hydrographic Office. His map of Lüderitz Bay indicated the position of the padrao (stone cross) erected by Bartholomeu Dias* in 1488 on his pioneering voyage around the Cape of Good Hope.
