Museum of Cornish Life

Henry was a parrot belonging to the Captain of a sailing ship called the Socoa. In 1906 the Socoa was on a voyage to deliver cement to help with the rebuilding of San Francisco, after the city had been badly damaged by earthquake and fire. Unfortunately, on the 1st of August, thick fog caused the ship to wreck on rocks off the coast of Cornwall. In the chaos and confusion Henry abandoned ship, flew away from the Socoa and headed inland. After 2 miles he stopped at a farm - where he was adopted by the farmer and his children - living happily with them for the rest of his life. The family loved him so much that when he finally died, they had him preserved in a glass case!