What is Matthew Flinders?
{{Infobox person |name = Matthew Flinders |image = Matthew Flinders watercolour 1801 a069001.jpg |image_size = 230px |birth_date = {{Birth date|1774|03|16|df=yes}} |birth_place = [[Donington, Lincolnshire]],<br />[[England]] |death_date = {{Death date and age|1814|07|19|1774|03|16|df=yes}} |death_place = [[London]], England |occupation = Royal Navy Ships Officer |spouse = {{Marriage|Ann Chappelle|1801}} |children = Anne }} '''Matthew Flinders''' {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Royal Navy|RN]]}} (16 March 1774 – 19 July 1814) was an English [[navigator]] and [[cartographer]]. He was the leader of the first [[circumnavigation]] of [[Australia]] and identified it as a continent. Flinders made three [[voyage]]s to the southern ocean between 1791 and 1810. In the second voyage, [[George Bass]] and Flinders confirmed that [[Van Diemen's Land]] (now [[Tasmania]]) was an [[island]]. In the third voyage, Flinders circumnavigated the mainland of what was to be called Australia, along with [[Aboriginal]] man [[Bungaree]]. Heading back to England in 1803, Flinders' vessel needed urgent repairs at Isle de France ([[Mauritius]]). Although [[Britain]] and [[France]] were at war, Flinders thought the scientific nature of his work would ensure safe passage, but a suspicious governor kept him under arrest for more than six years. In captivity, he recorded details of his voyages for future publication, and put forward his rationale for naming the new continent 'Australia', as an umbrella term for New Holland and New South Wales – a suggestion taken up later by Governor [[Macquarie]]. Flinders' health had suffered, however, and although he reached home in 1810, he did not live to see the publication of his widely praised book and [[atlas]], ''[[A Voyage to Terra Australis]]''. {{DEFAULTSORT:Flinders, Matthew}} [[Category:Royal Navy officers]] [[Category:English explorers]] [[Category:1774 births]] [[Category:1814 deaths]]