People have used boats for travel for thousands of years. Paddling for fun and adventure took off in Britain in the 1860s, thanks largely to one barrister and his book.
The man and his boat
John MacGregor was a barrister and travel writer. After a trip to North America in 1858 he became interested in the canoes he saw there. Back in London he designed a decked, double ended canoe, which was built on the Thames at Lambeth. He named it the Rob Roy after his famous ancestor.
The voyages
MacGregor’s first long trip is usually dated to 1865. He paddled and sailed through parts of Europe and wrote about it. His book, A Thousand Miles in the Rob Roy Canoe, appeared soon after and went through many editions. Some sources date it 1865 and others 1866.
The Royal Canoe Club
The Royal Canoe Club was founded in 1866, with the Prince of Wales as commodore, and MacGregor is described as an early captain. The success of the book helped the idea spread. MacGregor is also credited with founding the American Canoe Association in 1880.
From sailing canoes to river sport
The first canoes were also sailing boats. Over the following decades, paddle sports grew in many directions, including racing, touring and river running. Modern kayaks are very different boats, but the idea of a small craft for one or two people comes from this period.
Try it today
Kayaking and canoeing are among the easiest water activities to try with a group. See our kayaking page for providers, and our rafting vs kayaking guide.
Sources
- John MacGregor, Wikipedia
- John MacGregor, Undiscovered Scotland
- Tumblehome and the Rob Roy, Paddling Magazine
Dates for the book and the club differ slightly between sources, so treat them as approximate.