Dedication
IN MEMORY OF
CAPTAIN MATTHEW FLINDERS, R.N.
WHO DIED JULY 19TH 1814,
AGED 40 YEARS.
Chronology
1774 (March 16): Born at Donington.
1789 (October 23): Enters the Royal Navy.
1790 (July 31): Midshipman on the Bellerophon.
1791 to 1793: Voyage in the Providence.
1793 (September): Rejoins the Bellerophon.
1794 (June): Participates in the battle off Brest.
1795 (February): Sails for Australia in the Reliance. Meets George Bass.
1796 (March): Cruise of the Tom Thumb.
1797 (December): Bass’s whaleboat voyage.
1798 (January): Discovery of Westernport.
1798 (January): Flinders’ voyage in the Francis.
1798 (January 31): Flinders obtains lieutenant’s commission.
1798 (October): Voyage of the Norfolk.
1798 (November): Discovery of Port Dalrymple.
1798 (December): Bass Strait demonstrated.
1799: Return to Port Jackson.
1799 (July): Exploration on Queensland coast.
1800 (March): Return to England in the Reliance.
1800 (October): Arrival in England.
Plan of Australian Exploration.
1800 (December): The Investigator commissioned.
1801 (January 17): Publication of Observations.
1801 (February 16): Obtains commander’s rank.
1801 (April): Marriage of Flinders.
1801 (July 18): Sailing of the Investigator.
1801 (December): Australia reached.
1802 (February): Discovery of Spencer’s Gulf.
1802 (March): Discovery of Kangaroo Island and St. Vincent’s Gulf.
1802 (April): Meeting of Flinders and Baudin in Encounter Bay.
1802 (May): Flinders in Port Phillip.
1802 (July): Voyage to Northern Australia.
1802 (August): Discovery of Port Curtis and Port Bowen.
1802 (November): In the Gulf of Carpentaria.
1803 (April): Return voyage; Australia circumnavigated.
1803 (June): Sydney reached; the Investigator condemned.
1803 (July 10): Sails in the Porpoise.
1803 (August 17): Wrecked on the Barrier Reef.
Voyage in the Hope to Sydney.
1803 (September 8): Arrival in Port Jackson.
1803 (September 21): Sails in the Cumberland.
1803 (November): Timor reached.
1803 (December 17): Arrival at Ile-de-France; made a prisoner.
1804 (April): Removal to the Garden Prison (Maison Despeaux).
1805: Removal to Wilhelm’s Plains.
1806 (March 21): French Government orders release of Flinders.
1810 (June 13): Release of Flinders.
1810 (October 24): Return to England.
1814 (July 19): Death of Flinders.