Francis Thomas Gregory
Encyclopedia
Francis Thomas Gregory was an English
-born Australia
n explorer and politician
.
, Nottinghamshire
, England
, and was the younger brother of the explorer Augustus Gregory
. Francis Gregory was brought to Western Australia
in 1829, entered the public service as a cadet in 1841, became an assistant in 1847 and a staff surveyor in 1849.
With his two brothers Gregory explored the country north of Perth
in 1846. In 1857 he explored the Upper Murchison River
, and in 1858 examined the country farther to the east and north. In 1860 he visited London
and was put in charge of an expedition to explore the north-west coast of Australia
, the British government making a grant of £2000 towards the expenses. Gregory left Fremantle
on 23 April 1861 and four days later, at Champion Bay, he was joined by three volunteers, making a party of nine. They completed the landing of the horses near the site of Roebourne
on 24 May, and started for the interior on the following day. The Fortescue River
was followed for several days and a turn to the south-west was then made and the Hardey River
was followed. On 25 June, having reached latitude 23 degrees 56 min., they began to retrace their steps and reached their landing place on the coast on 19 July. On 29 July another journey to the east was begun but to the north of the previous track. Gregory returned with his party on 17 October having discovered some excellent country. A return was made by sea to Perth which was reached on 9 November 1861. Gregory estimated that there were 2 or 3 million acres (8,000 or 12,000 km²) of land in the district examined suitable for grazing, and he also drew attention to the possibilities of the pearl oyster
industry.
In 1862 Gregory went to Queensland
and was for some years commissioner of crown lands and a member of the Queensland Legislative Council
from 1874, and for a short period in 1883 was postmaster-general. He died at Toowoomba, Queensland
on 24 October 1888. He was given the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society
in 1863.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n explorer and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Biography
Gregory was born at FarnsfieldFarnsfield
Farnsfield is a village and civil parish in Nottinghamshire in Sherwood Forest. It is in the local government district of Newark and Sherwood....
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and was the younger brother of the explorer Augustus Gregory
Augustus Gregory
Sir Augustus Charles Gregory KCMG. was an English-born Australian explorer. Between 1846 and 1858 he undertook four major expeditions.-Early years:...
. Francis Gregory was brought to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
in 1829, entered the public service as a cadet in 1841, became an assistant in 1847 and a staff surveyor in 1849.
With his two brothers Gregory explored the country north of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in 1846. In 1857 he explored the Upper Murchison River
Murchison River (Western Australia)
The Murchison River is the second longest river in Western Australia. It flows for about from the southern edge of the Robinson Ranges to the Indian Ocean at Kalbarri. It has a mean annual flow of about 200 million cubic metres.-Course:...
, and in 1858 examined the country farther to the east and north. In 1860 he visited London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and was put in charge of an expedition to explore the north-west coast of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the British government making a grant of £2000 towards the expenses. Gregory left Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
on 23 April 1861 and four days later, at Champion Bay, he was joined by three volunteers, making a party of nine. They completed the landing of the horses near the site of Roebourne
Roebourne, Western Australia
Roebourne is an old gold rush town in Western Australia's Pilbara region. It is 202 km from Port Hedland and 1,563 km from Perth, the state's capital. It prospered during its gold boom of the late 19th century and was once the biggest settlement between Darwin and Perth...
on 24 May, and started for the interior on the following day. The Fortescue River
Fortescue River
The Fortescue River is an ephemeral river in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is the third longest river in the state.The river rises near Deadman Hill in the Ophthalmia Range about 30 km South of Newman. The river flows in a Northerly direction parallel with the Great Northern...
was followed for several days and a turn to the south-west was then made and the Hardey River
Hardey River
The Hardey River is a river in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.The headwaters of the river rise at Mount Tom Price in the Hamersley Range and flow in a westerly direction...
was followed. On 25 June, having reached latitude 23 degrees 56 min., they began to retrace their steps and reached their landing place on the coast on 19 July. On 29 July another journey to the east was begun but to the north of the previous track. Gregory returned with his party on 17 October having discovered some excellent country. A return was made by sea to Perth which was reached on 9 November 1861. Gregory estimated that there were 2 or 3 million acres (8,000 or 12,000 km²) of land in the district examined suitable for grazing, and he also drew attention to the possibilities of the pearl oyster
Pearl oyster
Pearl oysters are saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs of the genus Pinctada in the family Pteriidae. They have a strong inner shell layer composed of nacre, also known as "mother of pearl"....
industry.
In 1862 Gregory went to Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and was for some years commissioner of crown lands and a member of the Queensland Legislative Council
Queensland Legislative Council
The Queensland Legislative Council was the upper house of the parliament in the Australian state of Queensland. It was a fully nominated body which first took office on 1 May 1860. It was abolished by the Constitution Amendment Act 1921, which took effect on 23 March 1922.Consequently, the...
from 1874, and for a short period in 1883 was postmaster-general. He died at Toowoomba, Queensland
Toowoomba, Queensland
Toowoomba is a city in Southern Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. With an estimated district population of 128,600, Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland city and its largest non-capital inland city...
on 24 October 1888. He was given the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
in 1863.