Alfred Agate was born in New
York in 1812. He was a brilliant artist, capable of drawing
landscapes, portraits and scientific illustrations. He created
many works of art during his time with the United States
Exploring Expedition and was the designated portrait and
botanical artist of the expedition. On his visit to Lake
Macquarie in 1839 he produced the well known portrait of Biraban. He died of consumption in 1846 aged 34. Alfred Agate was 27
years old on his visit to Lake Macquarie.
Twenty two year
old Horatio Hale served as a philologist on the expedition
and became an
expert in
his field. Hale's volume Ethnography
and Philology of the expedition printed in 1846 is said to
have laid the foundations of the ethnography of Polynesia.
