Matthew Flinders

Matthew Flinders - Voyager, Facts and Childhood

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Matthew Flinders's Personal Details

Mathew Flinders is an explorer of English descent, known for discovering Australia

InformationDetail
BirthdayMarch 16, 1774
Died onJuly 19, 1814
NationalityBritish
FamousMiscellaneous, Explorers, Voyager
HobbiesWriting
SpousesAnn Chappelle, Ann Flinders
Known asCaptain Matthew Flinders RN
Birth PlaceDonington
GenderMale
Sun SignPisces
Born inDonington
Famous asVoyager
Died at Age40

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

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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.

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Matthew Flinders biography timelines

  • // 16th Mar 1774
    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.
  • // 1789
    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’.
  • // 1795
    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.
  • // 1798
    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’.
  • // 1799
    The sailor then travelled to Moreton Bay, located in the eastern coast of Australia in 1799, on the vessel named ‘Norfolk’.
  • // 1801
    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.
  • // 1801
    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.
  • // 1802
    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.
  • // 1803
    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.
  • // 1803
    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.
  • // 1810
    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.
  • // 1814
    Flinders succumbed to his death in London, during the year 1814, at the age of 40.

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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