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The Life of Matthew Flinders
Professor Ernest Scott's biography of the illustrious navigator Matthew Flinders was first published in 1914 to mark and honour the centenary of Flinders's death. this second edition is timed to coincide with the bicentenary of the commencement of his voyage on the Investigator, which resulted in the first recorded circumnavigation of the Australian continent. the Life of Flinders - from his youth in Lincolnshire to his early years in the Royal Navy, his voyage under Bligh, his arrival in Port Jackson, his partnership in exploration with George Bass, his marriage, the subsequent voyages of discovery, his tragically prolonged detention on Mauritius, his return to England and his untimely death at the age of 40 - is examined in detail in this informative, entertaining and at times moving narrative. Scott's discursive, whimsical style reveals a biographer enamoured of manly endeavour and the pursuit of 'scientific discovery', and while modern readers will perhaps find the prejudices of his age a little remote from those of ours today, he has brought to his work an enthusiasm, diligence, critical rigour, even-handedness and humanity that is immediately apparent and to which one readily responds.
- GenresBiography
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1914
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 2, 2021
It fell to Royal Navy officer Matthew Flinders to work out that the various landfalls around the area marked on the map as Terra Australis Incognita were all part of one landmass, and he would christen it with the elegant name Australia. On the way home in a badly-leaking schooner, he had to risk calling in at Mauritius, even though he knew Britain and France might be at war - which they were.
On the second evening, there occurred a most unfortunate clash of personalities. The governor of Mauritius (then still called Ile-de-France) was an accomplished general, Isidore Decaen, noted for his brusque manners and short temper. He had many reasons to be suspicious of this unknown English newcomer, and had placed him under (reasonably comfortable) house arrest at an inn, from where he summoned him to a distinctly confrontational meeting.
Flinders was burning with indignation at his treatment, which he felt unworthy of his rank, having also suffered weeks of extreme pressure, just trying to keep his ship afloat. When the governor invited him to dinner (at his wife’s suggestion), Flinders coldly rejected the courtesy. To the governor, this was a gross insult, for which he never forgave him, keeping him in captivity for six more years, releasing him only just before Mauritius became a British possession.
At least he did make it home, in time to receive much praise from the Admiralty for his new findings, but he was a dying man. He might have lived on, to wealth and glory, but he’d sacrificed it all for one moment of injured vanity.
This biography of Flinders, apparently the first-ever, appeared in 1914, on the centenary of his death. It was an era when biographies tended to be staunchly commemorative and unrevealing, though this one was a craftsmanlike job, more readable than expected. I did, however, search in vain for Australia’s favourite Flinders anecdote, that he had been a little too successful in addressing his attentions to the general’s daughter…
On the second evening, there occurred a most unfortunate clash of personalities. The governor of Mauritius (then still called Ile-de-France) was an accomplished general, Isidore Decaen, noted for his brusque manners and short temper. He had many reasons to be suspicious of this unknown English newcomer, and had placed him under (reasonably comfortable) house arrest at an inn, from where he summoned him to a distinctly confrontational meeting.
Flinders was burning with indignation at his treatment, which he felt unworthy of his rank, having also suffered weeks of extreme pressure, just trying to keep his ship afloat. When the governor invited him to dinner (at his wife’s suggestion), Flinders coldly rejected the courtesy. To the governor, this was a gross insult, for which he never forgave him, keeping him in captivity for six more years, releasing him only just before Mauritius became a British possession.
At least he did make it home, in time to receive much praise from the Admiralty for his new findings, but he was a dying man. He might have lived on, to wealth and glory, but he’d sacrificed it all for one moment of injured vanity.
This biography of Flinders, apparently the first-ever, appeared in 1914, on the centenary of his death. It was an era when biographies tended to be staunchly commemorative and unrevealing, though this one was a craftsmanlike job, more readable than expected. I did, however, search in vain for Australia’s favourite Flinders anecdote, that he had been a little too successful in addressing his attentions to the general’s daughter…
May 3, 2022
This was a very long book, and I did find it difficult to read in parts. Obviously given that Matthew Flinders rose through the naval ranks to become a Captain, there were a lot of naval battles to get through. He did excel himself in these and went on many voyages round the world, including Tahiti under Captain Bligh just after the mutiny by Fletcher Christian had taken place.
Flinders also brought breadfruits half way round the world to now was it the west indies? Where they became a staple crop, in the south sea islands where he dug them up they scored the fruit's skin and baked it until black, then peeled the charred peel away and just underneath all that was a thin crust and then beneath that what looked like bread. According to some sailors it tasted disgusting, but it became a favourite crop to the country he delivered it to, I can't find the reference in the book, but I think he took it to the West Indies. Maybe another reviewer can answer that question!
He was a cartographer and an excellent mathematician which helped in managing the sea charts. He was born in 1794 in Donnington, which was about 10 or so miles from the Wash, and many naval officers came from that area. He married Anne Chappelle after whom he named several islands and places on his maps, and that was even before he married her in 1801!!
Flinders went on a sea voyage which was meant to last 3 yrs before he would see his new wife again, but on the way home France was at war and he was pulled up by the french navy and then kept in captivity for 6 yrs in France. His wife didn't see him for 9 years! They had one daughter and when she was just 2 he died in 1814 at home in London, having been ill for some time. He was buried near Euston station but during the cross rail excavations his grave was found and he was reburied in his home church in Donnington.
One of his claims to fame was to give a name to a continent, and called it Australia.
Flinders also brought breadfruits half way round the world to now was it the west indies? Where they became a staple crop, in the south sea islands where he dug them up they scored the fruit's skin and baked it until black, then peeled the charred peel away and just underneath all that was a thin crust and then beneath that what looked like bread. According to some sailors it tasted disgusting, but it became a favourite crop to the country he delivered it to, I can't find the reference in the book, but I think he took it to the West Indies. Maybe another reviewer can answer that question!
He was a cartographer and an excellent mathematician which helped in managing the sea charts. He was born in 1794 in Donnington, which was about 10 or so miles from the Wash, and many naval officers came from that area. He married Anne Chappelle after whom he named several islands and places on his maps, and that was even before he married her in 1801!!
Flinders went on a sea voyage which was meant to last 3 yrs before he would see his new wife again, but on the way home France was at war and he was pulled up by the french navy and then kept in captivity for 6 yrs in France. His wife didn't see him for 9 years! They had one daughter and when she was just 2 he died in 1814 at home in London, having been ill for some time. He was buried near Euston station but during the cross rail excavations his grave was found and he was reburied in his home church in Donnington.
One of his claims to fame was to give a name to a continent, and called it Australia.
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