This article was published in Australian Dictionary of
Biography, Volume 5, (MUP), 1974 John Moresby (1830-1922),
admiral, hydrographer and explorer, was born on 15 March 1830 at
Allerford, Somerset, England, second surviving son of Admiral
Fairfax Moresby (1786-1877) and his wife Eliza Louisa, née
Williams. Educated locally, he joined the navy at 12 as a cadet.
In 1845-49 he served as a midshipman on the American and
Mediterranean Stations and then took a gunnery course. Promoted
lieutenant in 1851, he served in South American waters and the
Baltic during the Crimean war. On half-pay as a commander from
1858, he served on the China Station in 1861-64. Promoted post
captain on 1 January 1865, he was on half-pay but worked as a
marine surveyor in Ireland for five years. In January 1871
Moresby was sent to the Australian Station in command of the
'old-fashioned paddler' H.M.S. Basilisk. Four months out of
Plymouth she put into Melbourne for repairs but was immediately
ordered to Sydney and nearly wrecked in Bas