Matthew Flinders - Voyager, Facts and Childhood
Matthew Flinders's Personal Details
Mathew Flinders is an explorer of English descent, known for discovering Australia
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | March 16, 1774 |
| Died on | July 19, 1814 |
| Nationality | British |
| Famous | Miscellaneous, Explorers, Voyager |
| Hobbies | Writing |
| Spouses | Ann Chappelle, Ann Flinders |
| Known as | Captain Matthew Flinders RN |
| Birth Place | Donington |
| Gender | Male |
| Sun Sign | Pisces |
| Born in | Donington |
| Famous as | Voyager |
| Died at Age | 40 |
Matthew Flinders's photo
Who is Matthew Flinders?
Mathew Flinders is a British sailor who falls in the same league as other iconic explorer like Chris Columbus due to his remarkable discovery. The continent Australia, as the world identifies the land, is a discovery of this renowned explorer. Starting his career at the tender age of fifteen, Flinders went on to explore many places, especially those located towards the east of England. He even went on to command many vessels such as the ‘HMS Investigator’ and ‘HMS Reliance’. The explorer even met many eminent individuals during his journeys, including Botanist Sir Joseph Banks and sailor Nicolas Baudin. However, his days of glory ended in 1803, when Mathew was detained by the French forces for apparently entering their territory in an illegal manner. The sailor finally returned to his England after spending many years of detention. Post his return, Flinders created an atlas named ‘Voyage to Terra Australis’ which was a masterpiece and helped many other explorers in navigation. Australia has honoured this man immensely by naming many places and institutions after him. A few of these places include ‘Flinders Ranges National Park’ as well as ‘Flinders University’. The postal department had even issued stamps as a mark of tribute to his discoveries
// Famous Explorers
John Cabot
John Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer who was the first European to discover the coast of North America. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, life, and achievements.
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was the legendary Italian merchant, explorer and traveler, who travelled to China and worked under emperor, Kublai Khan. Read this biography to learn more about his profile, childhood, life and timeline.
Bear Grylls
Bear Grylls is an adventurer popularly known for his bizarre survival tactics in reality television series Man vs. Wild. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, profile, career and timeline.
Childhood & Early Life
Mathew was born to Susannah and Mathew Flinders on the 16th of March, 1774 at Donington village, located in Lincolnshire. He pursued his primary education at a locally situated grammar school.
In 1789, he was appointed as a member the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, the lad was hardly fifteen years old back then. He was initially deputed on ‘HMS Alert’, after which he moved to the vessel ‘HMS Scipio’.
The very next year, he travelled along with the British navy officer William Bligh to Tahiti, a place located in the Pacific Ocean. Transportation of breadfruit was one of the intentions behind this voyage.
Career
Flinders, next, got the opportunity to be a part of the crew of ‘HMS Reliance’, which also included Captain John Hunter, the Governor of New South Wales aboard. In 1795, this ship travelled to ‘Port Jackson’, located in New South Wales.
During this voyage, Mathew became friends with George Bass, a surgeon whom he met on the ship. These two, later went on to travel together to places like Botany Bay, located in New South Wales, as well as Lake Illawara.
Flinders was eventually promoted to the designation of a lieutenant and given the opportunity to command the vessel ‘Norfolk’ in 1798. The purpose of this journey was to travel through places like Furneaux’s Islands, located between Victoria and Tasmania as well as Van Diemen’s islands. One of the largest islands found during this stretch was later named ‘Flinder’s Islands’.
The sailor then travelled to Moreton Bay, located in the eastern coast of Australia in 1799, on the vessel named ‘Norfolk’.
During one of his voyages, Mathew met the English naturalist and botanist named Sir Joseph Banks. Impressed by Mathew’s skills, Banks helped the sailor command the ship ‘HMS Investigator’ in 1801. The intention of the journey was to explore the coastline of Holland.
During this trip, Flinders also discovered a stretch in the southern coast of Australia, which was christened Cape Leeuwin.
While cruising in the sea in 1802, this sailor spotted a French vessel named ‘Geographe’, which was captained by the renowned explorer Nicolas Baudin. Both Baudin and Flinders bonded well and even shared their experiences. The place where the two explorers first met was named ‘Encounter Bay’, for obvious reasons.
Flinders then reached Sydney in 1803, but wanted to return to his motherland, England. Failing to find a ship which he could command himself, the explorer travelled on a vessel named ‘HMS Purpoise’ as a passenger.
However a tragedy occurred midway in the form of a ship wreck, while Mathew was aboard. His presence of mind helped in rescuing the people on board.
While returning to England in 1803 on the vessel ‘Cumberland’, the explorer was stranded in the French coast due to problems in the ship which made it difficult to sail further.
On the basis of suspicion, he was arrested by the French governor Charles Mathieu Isidore Decaen and released a few years later.
This renowned sailor finally reached England in 1810, after which he worked on making an atlas based on his travel experiences. This work was later named ‘Voyage To Terra Australis’ and released four years later.
Major Works
Flinders is most popular for coining the name ‘Australia’, after the land he had discovered during one of his voyages. In a letter to Botanist Sir Joseph Banks, he mentioned the word ‘Australia’ as a way to refer to the land which he had explored.
Personal Life & Legacy
This explorer tied the knot with his close friend Ann Chappelle, in 1801. The couple then became parents to a girl-child named Anne. The explorer had to stay away from his wife for nine years due to his imprisonment.
Flinders succumbed to his death in London, during the year 1814, at the age of 40.
Quite a few places and institutions in Australia have been named after this great explorer. Some of the prominent ones amongst these include ‘Flinders Ranges National Park’, ‘Mathew Flinders Girls Secondary College’ as well as ‘Flinders Street’, located in Adelaide.
The ‘Australia Post’ department has issued several stamps in Mathew’s honour. The first among these was released in 1964.
Trivia
His refusal to dine with the French Governor Decaen insulted the latter, forcing Decaen to extend Mathew’s imprisonment for a few more years.
// Famous Miscellaneous
Jason Simpson
Jason Simpson is the son of former NFL running back, broadcaster and actor O. J. Simpson. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, life, and little known facts about him.
Melissa Brim
Melissa Brim is the ex-girlfriend of former professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.
Joyce Meyer
Joyce Meyer is a Christian author and speaker. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline
Matthew Flinders biography timelines
- // 16th Mar 1774Mathew was born to Susannah and Mathew Flinders on the 16th of March, 1774 at Donington village, located in Lincolnshire. He pursued his primary education at a locally situated grammar school.
- // 1789In 1789, he was appointed as a member the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, the lad was hardly fifteen years old back then. He was initially deputed on ‘HMS Alert’, after which he moved to the vessel ‘HMS Scipio’.
- // 1795Flinders, next, got the opportunity to be a part of the crew of ‘HMS Reliance’, which also included Captain John Hunter, the Governor of New South Wales aboard. In 1795, this ship travelled to ‘Port Jackson’, located in New South Wales.
- // 1798Flinders was eventually promoted to the designation of a lieutenant and given the opportunity to command the vessel ‘Norfolk’ in 1798. The purpose of this journey was to travel through places like Furneaux’s Islands, located between Victoria and Tasmania as well as Van Diemen’s islands. One of the largest islands found during this stretch was later named ‘Flinder’s Islands’.
- // 1799The sailor then travelled to Moreton Bay, located in the eastern coast of Australia in 1799, on the vessel named ‘Norfolk’.
- // 1801During one of his voyages, Mathew met the English naturalist and botanist named Sir Joseph Banks. Impressed by Mathew’s skills, Banks helped the sailor command the ship ‘HMS Investigator’ in 1801. The intention of the journey was to explore the coastline of Holland.
- // 1801This explorer tied the knot with his close friend Ann Chappelle, in 1801. The couple then became parents to a girl-child named Anne. The explorer had to stay away from his wife for nine years due to his imprisonment.
- // 1802While cruising in the sea in 1802, this sailor spotted a French vessel named ‘Geographe’, which was captained by the renowned explorer Nicolas Baudin. Both Baudin and Flinders bonded well and even shared their experiences. The place where the two explorers first met was named ‘Encounter Bay’, for obvious reasons.
- // 1803Flinders then reached Sydney in 1803, but wanted to return to his motherland, England. Failing to find a ship which he could command himself, the explorer travelled on a vessel named ‘HMS Purpoise’ as a passenger.
- // 1803While returning to England in 1803 on the vessel ‘Cumberland’, the explorer was stranded in the French coast due to problems in the ship which made it difficult to sail further.
- // 1810This renowned sailor finally reached England in 1810, after which he worked on making an atlas based on his travel experiences. This work was later named ‘Voyage To Terra Australis’ and released four years later.
- // 1814Flinders succumbed to his death in London, during the year 1814, at the age of 40.
// Famous British peoples
Wentworth Miller
Wentworth Miller is an American actor and screenwriter who achieved recognition for his role in the TV series ‘Prison Break’.
Sophie Reade
Sophie Victoria Reade is a British model and reality show star. Let’s take a look at her family and personal life, including her age, birthday, boyfriends, and some interesting facts.
Josh Temple
Check out all that you wanted to know about Josh Temple (Slogoman), the famous British YouTube Personality; his birthday, his family and personal life, his girlfriends, fun trivia facts and more.
Yammy Xox
Check out all that you wanted to know about Yammy Xox, the famous British YouTube Personality; her birthday, her family and personal life, her boyfriends, fun trivia facts and more.
Grian
Grian is an English YouTube gamer and social media influencer. Check out this biography to know about his birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Benjamin Atkinson
Benjamin Atkinson is the son of the world-renowned British actor and comedian, Rowan Atkinson. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, personal life, including his age, birthday, etc.
Matthew Flinders's FAQ
What is Matthew Flinders birthday?
Matthew Flinders was born at 1774-03-16
When was Matthew Flinders died?
Matthew Flinders was died at 1814-07-19
Where was Matthew Flinders died?
Matthew Flinders was died in London
Which age was Matthew Flinders died?
Matthew Flinders was died at age 40
Where is Matthew Flinders's birth place?
Matthew Flinders was born in Donington
What is Matthew Flinders nationalities?
Matthew Flinders's nationalities is British
What is Matthew Flinders hobbies?
Matthew Flinders's hobbies is Writing
Who is Matthew Flinders spouses?
Matthew Flinders's spouses is Ann Chappelle, Ann Flinders
What is Matthew Flinders's sun sign?
Matthew Flinders is Pisces
How famous is Matthew Flinders?
Matthew Flinders is famouse as Voyager