The previous survey expedition to South America involved HMS "Adventure" and HMS "Beagle" under the overall command of the Australian Commander Phillip Parker King. During the survey, "Beagle"'s captain, Pringle Stokes, committed suicide and command of the ship was given to the young aristocrat Robert FitzRoy, a nephew of George FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton. When a ship's boat was taken by the natives of Tierra del Fuego, FitzRoy took four of them hostage. One died of smallpox, and the other three were brought back to England to be given a Christian education, with the idea that they could eventually become missionaries. After "Beagle"'s return to Devonport dockyard on 14 October 1830, Captain King retired.