Thomas Gilbert was an 18th-century British mariner.[1][2] The Republic of Kiribati (and the constituent Gilbert Islands) is named after him.
Being now abreast of this island, the extremity ending in a beautiful clump of trees, I hauled up to look at the bay. It appeared to be safe and commodious, sheltered by a long reef running parallel with the island, with two large inlets into the bay. The reef is about 3/4 of a mile from the beach, and has several small islands which appear like flower pots.