# Matthew Flinders

> English navigator and cartographer (1774-1814)

**Wikidata**: [Q219895](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219895)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Flinders)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/matthew-flinders

## Summary
Matthew Flinders was an English navigator and cartographer (1774–1814) who is best known for circumnavigating the Australian continent and mapping its coastline. His meticulous surveys and explorations laid the foundation for modern understanding of Australia’s geography.

## Biography
- Born: 1774
- Nationality: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (historically)
- Education: Not specified in source material
- Known for: Circumnavigating Australia and documenting its geography
- Employer(s): Not specified in source material
- Field(s): Navigation, cartography, botany

## Contributions
Matthew Flinders authored *A Voyage to Terra Australis* (1814), a detailed account of his circumnavigation of Australia. His work provided the first accurate maps of the continent and established Australia’s true size and shape. He also named numerous geographical features, including the Flinders Ranges, Flinders Island, and Flinders River.

## FAQs
**What was Matthew Flinders known for?**
Matthew Flinders is known for circumnavigating Australia and producing the first accurate maps of the continent. His work in navigation and cartography fundamentally changed the understanding of Australia’s geography.

**Where did Matthew Flinders work?**
There is no specific information about Matthew Flinders’s employers in the source material. His work was largely independent and funded by the British government.

**What is Matthew Flinders’s most famous publication?**
Matthew Flinders’s most famous publication is *A Voyage to Terra Australis* (1814), which documented his circumnavigation of Australia.

**What geographical features did Matthew Flinders name?**
Matthew Flinders named the Flinders Ranges, Flinders Island, and the Flinders River, among other features.

## Why They Matter
Matthew Flinders’s work in navigation and cartography was pivotal in establishing Australia’s true geography. Before his expeditions, Australia was often depicted inaccurately on maps, leading to misunderstandings about its size and shape. Flinders’s surveys and publications corrected these misconceptions, providing a foundation for future exploration and settlement. His detailed maps and accounts influenced later explorers and scientists, shaping the modern understanding of Australia.

## Notable For
- First to circumnavigate Australia and map its coastline accurately
- Authored *A Voyage to Terra Australis*, a foundational work on Australian geography
- Named the Flinders Ranges, Flinders Island, and the Flinders River
- His work laid the groundwork for modern Australian cartography and exploration

## Body
### Early Life and Career
Matthew Flinders was born in 1774 and began his career as a navigator and cartographer. His early work involved surveying and mapping coastal regions, though specific details about his early employment are not provided in the source material.

### Exploration of Australia
In 1801, Flinders embarked on a voyage to Terra Australis (Australia), funded by the British government. His expedition was the first to circumnavigate the continent, a feat that had eluded previous explorers. Flinders meticulously recorded the coastline, documenting its true shape and size, which had previously been misunderstood.

### *A Voyage to Terra Australis*
Upon his return, Flinders published *A Voyage to Terra Australis* in 1814. This book detailed his journey and provided the first accurate maps of Australia. His work corrected long-standing inaccuracies in European maps of the continent, establishing Australia’s true geography.

### Geographical Contributions
During his expedition, Flinders named several geographical features, including the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, Flinders Island in Tasmania, and the Flinders River in Queensland. These names remain in use today, honoring his contributions to Australian geography.

### Legacy and Influence
Flinders’s surveys and publications had a lasting impact on the understanding of Australia. His work influenced later explorers and scientists, including those involved in the European colonization of Australia. The Flinders University in Adelaide and the Flinders Medal, awarded by the Australian Academy of Science, bear his name, recognizing his enduring influence on Australian science and exploration.

### Personal Life
Flinders was known to have a cat named Trim, who accompanied him on his voyages. The cat’s presence on the expeditions added a personal touch to Flinders’s scientific endeavors.

## References

1. [Source](https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/nQRB3rZ1)
2. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
3. BnF authorities
4. Integrated Authority File
5. Source
6. [Geographicus Rare Antique Maps biographical dictionary of cartographers](https://www.geographicus.com/P/RareMaps/flindersmatthew)
7. [Source](https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/matthew-flinders-found-london-dig-unearths-grave-of-great-explorer-20190125-p50tjh.html)
8. International Standard Name Identifier
9. CiNii Research
10. International Plant Names Index
11. The Life of Captain Matthew Flinders, R.N.
12. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
13. SNAC
14. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
15. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
16. Roglo
17. Proleksis Encyclopedia
18. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
19. Virtual International Authority File
20. [BnF authorities](http://data.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb122497101)
21. BBC Things
22. CERL Thesaurus
23. [Kaart van Bass Straat tussen Australië & Tasmanië, in 1798 - 99 opgenomen door Matthew Flinders (1774 - 1814). 1820](https://n2t.net/ark:/33862/collect/522746)