McKean Island was the first of the Phoenix group to be reported and named. It was discovered on May 28, 1794, by a British captain, Henry Barber, of the ship "Arthur". Barber named it "Drummond's Island", plotting it at 3°40'S, 176°51'W. It was later named " Arthur Island" and appeared as such in charts of the time and was recorded as located at 3°30'S, 176°0'W. On August 19, 1840, Commander Charles Wilkes of the United States Exploring Expedition mapped it and renamed it "McKean Island", after a member of his crew.