 He traveled first to the north Pacific coast of North America, to trade for furs, and then to China, to trade the pelts for tea and other Chinese goods.After his return from that expedition, Gray set sail for the northwest coast again on September 28, 1790, reaching his destination in 1792.During his first voyage to the northwest coast, Gray was second-in-command of "Columbia Rediviva" under Captain John Kendrick, who remained in the Pacific, in command of .