The Foundation of Oceanography

The Challenger expedition, the scientific exercise credited with laying the foundation of oceanography, left from Portsmouth Harbour on 21 December 1872. The expedition was named after the mother vessel, HMS Challenger. She returned to Spithead on 24 May 1876 having spent 713 days at sea. One of its many acheivements was the discovery of 4,700 new species of marine life.

To find out more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_Expedition