Banks, Sir Joseph
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1743-1820. Elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1766. Accompanied James Cook as botanist on his voyage in 1768-71 in HMB 'Endeavour'. Was President of the Royal Society from 1778 until his death in 1820. Knighted in 1781. Patron of Flinders's voyage in HMS 'Investigator'. For additional information see the essay Flinders and the voyage of the 'Investigator' in the 'About Flinders' section of this site. |
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Barrow, John
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1764-1848. Second Secretary to the Admiralty for 40 years, 1805-45. Made a baronet in 1835. |
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Bass, George
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Born in Aswarby, Linconshire in 1771. Apprenticed to surgeon-apothecary in Boston, Lincolnshire. Obtained his Membership of the Company of Surgeons in 1789 and joined the Royal Navy to become surgeon. Joined HMS 'Reliance' as assistant surgeon on her 1795 voyage to New South Wales and teamed up with Flinders in various explorations of the coastline. In 1797-98 explored 1930 km (1200 miles) of coastline south from Sydney to the Victorian coast and was sure there was a strait between the mainland and Van Diemens Land, but did not have time to prove it. Accompanied Flinders on his circumnavigation of Tasmania (then Van Diemens Land) in late 1798. Flinders named Bass's Strait (now Bass Strait) after him. Also explored inland looking for new natural history specimens. Married Henry Waterhouse's sister, Elizabeth, in October 1800. Left Sydney on 5 February 1803 on a speculative commercial voyage to New Zealand and was never seen again. It was rumoured that he was heading to Chile with an illegal cargo. |
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Baudin, Charles
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1784-1854. Entered the French Navy in 1799 at the age of 15. By 1808 he had risen to command successively the frigates 'Pietmontaise' and 'La Semillante'. Lost his right arm in 1808 in combat with the British in the Indian Ocean. Continued in the Navy and was made captain in 1812. |
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Baudin, Nicolas
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Commander of the French expedition to Terra Australis 1801-03. Flinders and Baudin came across each other on 8 April 1802 in what is now called Encounter Bay, South Australia. Baudin died on Ile de France (Mauritius) just months before Flinders arrived in 1803. |
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Bauer (Bawer), Ferdinand
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Natural history artist on HMS 'Investigator'. Many of his drawings are held by the Natural History Museum, London. (For additional information see the essay Flinders and the voyage of the 'Investigator' in the 'About Flinders' section of this site.) |
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Bell
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There were three people named Bell on HMS 'Investigator' - Hugh Bell, the ship's surgeon, and Nathaniel and Thomas Bell, both midshipmen. |
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Bergeret, (Captain)
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Commanded the French frigate 'La Virginie'. Captured by Sir Edward Pellew in the 'Indefatigable' in 1796. Pellew offered to exchange him for Sir Sidney Smith but the French refused. When Smith escaped two years later, Bergeret was sent home unconditionally. He was instrumental in convincing De Caen to return Flinders's books, logs and charts to him. |
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Bertie, (Rear-Admiral) Sir Thomas
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Commanded a fleet of 70 ships and transports from Bombay and South Africa in the capture of Ile de France in 1810. |
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Bickerton, Sir Richard
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1759-1832. Baron of Upwood in Huntington County. Rear-Admiral to Nelson. Commanded the squadron off Cadiz in 1800. Flinders named Bickerton's Island for him. |
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Bligh, William
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1754-1817. Master of HMS 'Resolution 'on Cook's third voyage of 1776. Commanded HMS 'Bounty' on the first breadfruit expedition to Tahiti in 1787 which ended in the now famous 'mutiny of the Bounty'. He was honourably acquitted of any charges at court-martial. Commanded HMS 'Providence' on the second breadfruit expedition 1791-93 (Flinders was a midshipman on this voyage). Governor of New South Wales 1805-09 where his attempts to end official corruption led to the 'Rum Rebellion' in 1808. His tomb can be seen at the Museum of Garden History, Lambeth Palace Road, London (near the Imperial War Museum). |
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Bonaparte (Buonaparte), Napoléon.
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1769-1821. French General, First Consul 1799-1804; Emperor 1804-14. Born in Corsica, educated in France. Exiled to the island of St Helena where he died. |
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Bougainville, Louis Antoine, Comte de
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1729-1811. French explorer and navigator of the South Pacific who annexed Tahiti during his circumnavigation in 1766-69. |
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Brine, Robert
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Robert Brine. Franklin's agent in his financial affairs. Looked after Ann Flinders's financial affairs after Matthew died - presumably on the recommendation of Franklin. |
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Brown, Robert
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Botanist, HMS 'Investigator'. (For additional information see the essay Flinders and the voyage of the 'Investigator' in the 'About Flinders' section of this site.) |
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Buchan, David.
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Commander of the Arctic expedition with John Franklin in 1818. |