Thread: Bring Flinders back to his spiritual country?

We could re-bury him at the entry to Flinders Ranges,,

just next to the new Big Flinders tourist attraction.

that'll suck those Millenials in..

Originally Posted by Ean Austral

The chart mapping flinders did in the gulf of Carpenteria is still used today it's that accurate. Even with the use of GPS most of the rivers (and there are many ) on the eastern side of the gulf are still charted as flinders discovered them. The latest admiralty charts have filled in a few gaps but you could easily navigate safely using his original charts .

Anyone who has had to learn sextant navigation will fully understand how good he really was at his trade.

Personally I don't care where they put him if his remains came back , anywhere would be a fitting tribute to the man and his contribution to this country

Cheers Ean

Flinders mapping skills were learned from Bligh, who in turn learned them from Cook - who developed them mapping on the eastern Canada coast. In fact, Cook was responsible for developing and passing on training in mapping that led to Britain mapping accurately most of the world's coastlines from the late 1760s to near the end of the 19th century. This is Cook's real legacy, rather than specific bits of mapping that he did such as the east coast of Australia and most of NZ. Flinders was certainly the most brilliant of his successors, especially when you consider his short life and the length of time he spent imprisoned by the French.

Probably you are right bob, but he must have also had balls of steel to do the above 'cos it couldn't have been an easy decision to decide where the TV Transmission Towers should go. Seems Oz was awash with wanabee explorers back in those days. English, French & who knows who else from the Pacific & Asian nations but not recorded.


CB met an apparently sticky & mysterious end at the Murray Mouth. A good example of 'don't upset the neighbours'.

Originally Posted by bob10

Didn't you fellows do history at school?

Naming the Flinders Ranges

Hi,
Hardly any that was relevant, history of various British kings, Harold and his eye full of arrow in 1066 etc.
I've learnt more history since I retired than I ever did at school.
Cheers

Bring him back and intern him on the 26th Jan
We could rename it Flinders day

Originally Posted by austastar

Hi,
Hardly any that was relevant, history of various British kings, Harold and his eye full of arrow in 1066 etc.
I've learnt more history since I retired than I ever did at school.
Cheers

I have to say, I said that in jest. I remember history in school, boring as bat****. We knew more about England than Australia.

Originally Posted by austastar

Hi,
Hardly any that was relevant, history of various British kings, Harold and his eye full of arrow in 1066 etc.
I've learnt more history since I retired than I ever did at school.
Cheers

Me too, but it could be to do with the availability of the Internet that makes it so much easier, convenient & fun.

My problem is trying to remember it all.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Flinders mapping skills were learned from Bligh, who in turn learned them from Cook - who developed them mapping on the eastern Canada coast. In fact, Cook was responsible for developing and passing on training in mapping that led to Britain mapping accurately most of the world's coastlines from the late 1760s to near the end of the 19th century. This is Cook's real legacy, rather than specific bits of mapping that he did such as the east coast of Australia and most of NZ. Flinders was certainly the most brilliant of his successors, especially when you consider his short life and the length of time he spent imprisoned by the French.

If you read about the life of Flinders, you find perhaps Cook and Bligh had little to do with his navigational skills. Flinders started school at Donington free school, which was founded and endowed by one Thomas Cowley, open to the children of all residents of Donington parish. At 12 yrs. Flinders was sent to Horbling Grammar school, under the direction of Rev. John Shinglar. Introduced to Latin and Greek classics, here he received the grounding of that mathematical knowledge which subsequently enabled him -quote " to master the science of navigation without a tutor " unquote.

Perhaps the most unlikely source of Flinders inspiration was Daniel Defoe. His book "Robinson Crusoe" sparked the desire to go to sea, a spark that burned fiercely and denied all efforts by his father, and others to talk him out of it. He had an uncle in the Navy, John Flinders, who pointed out the reality of naval life , with its hardships and lack of promotion, but to no avail. It was Uncle John who realised Matthew was going to do it, come what may, so he offered some very practical advice- three books that must be studied. Euclid, John Robertson's Elements of Navigation, [first edition 1754] , and Hamilton Moore's " book on navigation ". After a year of bookwork, Flinders felt capable of acquitting himself creditably at sea. Long story short, Flinders had a cousin who was governess of one Captain Pasley [ afterwards Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley] Flinders cousin spoke to Captain Pasley, and it interested him to hear of this boy studying navigation without a tutor up in the fens. " send for him" said Pasley " I should like to see what stuff he is made of, and whether it is worth making him into a sailor." The rest, as they say, is history.