Originally a sailor and navigator, in his thirties Adam embarked on a fateful voyage across the Pacific. However, the expedition proved to be nothing short of a disaster: the expedition force was split up by a storm, and further down the line Adams’ vessel was plagued by issues such as a lack of food and rampant disease, which killed the majority of the passengers. After a long journey, Adams and his surviving crewmates managed to steer the boat into port at one of Japan’s docks, where they were arrested and eventually granted an audience with its Emperor, Tokugawa Ieyasu. The Emperor took a liking to the Englishman, and sensing his potential granted him the authority to oversee the construction of Japan’s first western-style ships.
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