What is John McDouall Stuart?
{{good}} {{Infobox Person |image = John McDouall Stuart 2.jpg |imagesize = 220px |caption = John McDouall Stuart |name = John McDouall Stuart |birth_date = {{birth date|1815|9|7|df=y}} |birth_place = [[Dysart, Fife]], [[Scotland]] |death_date = {{death date and age|1866|6|5|1815|9|7|df=y}} |death_place = [[London]], [[England]] |occupation = Explorer of [[Australia]], Surveyor, Grazier. }} '''John McDouall Stuart''' (7 September 1815{{spaced ndash}}5 June 1866) is regarded as one of [[Australia]]'s greatest [[explorer]]s. He went on seven major exploring trips into the centre and north of Australia. He was leader of six of these [[expedition]]s. He spent more time out in the Australian [[the bush|bush]] exploring the land than any other explorer. On each trip, he was able to go further north and found [[water]] [[wikt:source|source]]s that helped him with his final long journey. In 1862, he crossed Australia from [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]], to [[Van Diemen Gulf]] in the [[Northern Territory]]. He was the first [[Europe]]an to cross the [[continent]] from north to south and then return again. Exploring Australia caused Stuart to become very sick from [[disease]]s such as [[scurvy]] and [[beriberi]]. He pushed himself to the very limits of human [[wikt:endurance|endurance]]. Each trip left him weaker and at the end of his last trip he was unable to walk or ride and had to be carried back. Stuart's discoveries opened up the country for the growth of farming sheep and cattle. His route was used to build the [[Australian Overland Telegraph Line]] from Adelaide to [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]] which joined an undersea line from [[Java]]. This meant that for the first time, Australians could communicate quickly with the rest of the world. But his personal [[reward]]s were small. He was given some land by the government and a small [[salary]] from his [[employer]]s. Stuart died poor in [[England]] at the age of 50. ==Early life== [[File:John McDouall Stuart birthplace, Dysart.jpg|