William Paterson (explorer)
Encyclopedia
Colonel
William Paterson, FRS (17 August 1755 – 21 June 1810) was a Scottish
soldier
, explorer
, Lieutenant governor
and botanist best known for leading early settlement in Tasmania
. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Paterson when citing
a botanical name
.
, Scotland
, Paterson was interested in botany
as a boy. Paterson was sent to the Cape Colony
by the wealthy and eccentric Countess of Strathmore to collect plants, he arrived in Table Bay
on board the "Houghton" in May 1777. He made four trips into the interior between May 1777 and March 1780, when he departed. In 1789 Paterson published Narrative of Four Journeys into the Country of the Hottentots and Caffraria, which he dedicated to Sir Joseph Banks
.
in the 98th Regiment of Foot
and served in India
. He later transferred to the 73rd Regiment of Foot
after the 98th's disbandment in 1787. In 1789, he was promoted to captain in the New South Wales Corps
. After some time spent recruiting, he arrived in Sydney
in October 1791. From November 1791 until March 1793 he served in command on Norfolk Island
. Whilst there he collected botanical, geological and insect specimens and sent them to Banks. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in May 1798.
In 1794, Lieutenant-Colonel William Paterson granted more land and convict servants to the military, giving them great powers and undermining Governor Arthur Phillip's good naval government.
In 1794 he served for a year as Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales
. In 1800 he was re-appointed to the post and served a second term until 1808.
He led an expedition to the Hunter Valley
in 1801 and up the Paterson River
(later named in his honour by Governor King
) and in 1804 led an expedition to Port Dalrymple, in what is now Tasmania, exploring the Tamar River and going up the North Esk River
farther than anyone previously had managed to do.
Between 1804 and 1808 Paterson was also appointed Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen's Land (northern half). (Van Diemen's Land is now called Tasmania). In 1806 Paterson's duties as commander of the New South Wales Corps
required him to return to Sydney
, but he went back to Van Diemens's Land in 1807, and stayed until December 1808. During this time he corresponded regularly with the eminent naturalist Sir Joseph Banks, sending a number of specimens.
in the so-called "Rum Rebellion
", but was replaced by the newly arrived Lachlan Macquarie
by the end of the year because of failing health. He left Sydney for England on 12 May 1810, but died on board HMS Dromedary
while off Cape Horn
just a few weeks later.
His widow Elizabeth married Francis Grose in April 1814, but he died a month later.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
William Paterson, FRS (17 August 1755 – 21 June 1810) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, explorer
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
, Lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor (Australia)
In contemporary Australian state constitutions, a lieutenant governor is a standing appointment for a deputy governor, to act in place of the governor if they are unable, unavailable or unwilling to act. There is no deputy for the Commonwealth governor-general; instead, the senior state governor...
and botanist best known for leading early settlement in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Paterson when citing
Author citation (botany)
In botanical nomenclature, author citation refers to citing the person who validly published a botanical name, i.e. who first published the name while fulfilling the formal requirements as specified by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature...
a botanical name
Botanical name
A botanical name is a formal scientific name conforming to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and, if it concerns a plant cultigen, the additional cultivar and/or Group epithets must conform to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants...
.
Early years
A native of MontroseMontrose, Angus
Montrose is a coastal resort town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. It is situated 38 miles north of Dundee between the mouths of the North and South Esk rivers...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Paterson was interested in botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
as a boy. Paterson was sent to the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
by the wealthy and eccentric Countess of Strathmore to collect plants, he arrived in Table Bay
Table Bay
Table Bay is a natural bay on the Atlantic Ocean overlooked by Cape Town and is at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula, which stretches south to the Cape of Good Hope. It was named because it is dominated by the flat-topped Table Mountain.Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to explore this...
on board the "Houghton" in May 1777. He made four trips into the interior between May 1777 and March 1780, when he departed. In 1789 Paterson published Narrative of Four Journeys into the Country of the Hottentots and Caffraria, which he dedicated to Sir Joseph Banks
Joseph Banks
Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, GCB, PRS was an English naturalist, botanist and patron of the natural sciences. He took part in Captain James Cook's first great voyage . Banks is credited with the introduction to the Western world of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa and the genus named after him,...
.
Career
Paterson was originally commissioned as an ensignEnsign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the 98th Regiment of Foot
98th Regiment of Foot (disambiguation)
Six regiments of the British Army have been numbered the 98th Regiment of Foot:*98th Regiment of Foot, raised in 1761*98th Regiment of Foot, raised in 1780 and disbanded in 1787...
and served in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He later transferred to the 73rd Regiment of Foot
73rd Regiment of Foot
The 73rd Regiment of Foot also known as MacLeod's Highlanders after its founder John Mackenzie, Lord MacLeod, was an infantry regiment of the British Army.- History :- First raising :...
after the 98th's disbandment in 1787. In 1789, he was promoted to captain in the New South Wales Corps
New South Wales Corps
The New South Wales Corps was formed in England in 1789 as a permanent regiment to relieve the marines who had accompanied the First Fleet to Australia. The regiment, led by Major Francis Grose, consisted of three companies...
. After some time spent recruiting, he arrived in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in October 1791. From November 1791 until March 1793 he served in command on Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
. Whilst there he collected botanical, geological and insect specimens and sent them to Banks. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in May 1798.
In 1794, Lieutenant-Colonel William Paterson granted more land and convict servants to the military, giving them great powers and undermining Governor Arthur Phillip's good naval government.
In 1794 he served for a year as Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales
Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales
The Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales is a government position in the state of New South Wales, Australia, acting as a deputy to the Governor of New South Wales....
. In 1800 he was re-appointed to the post and served a second term until 1808.
He led an expedition to the Hunter Valley
Hunter Valley
The Hunter Region, more commonly known as the Hunter Valley, is a region of New South Wales, Australia, extending from approximately to north of Sydney with an approximate population of 645,395 people. Most of the population of the Hunter Region lives within of the coast, with 55% of the entire...
in 1801 and up the Paterson River
Paterson River
The Paterson River, a tributary of the Hunter River, is a significant river in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. Its headwaters are in the Barrington Tops National Park and it flows to join the Hunter River between Hinton and Morpeth...
(later named in his honour by Governor King
Philip Gidley King
Captain Philip Gidley King RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. He is best known as the official founder of the first European settlement on Norfolk Island and as the third Governor of New South Wales.-Early years and establishment of Norfolk Island settlement:King was born...
) and in 1804 led an expedition to Port Dalrymple, in what is now Tasmania, exploring the Tamar River and going up the North Esk River
North Esk River
The North Esk River is a river in Tasmania, Australia. It is one of the tributaries of the Tamar River together with the South Esk River. It starts in the Northallerton Valley below Mt Ben Nevis in the states North East joining with the St Patricks River, flowing through Launceston. Launceston's...
farther than anyone previously had managed to do.
Between 1804 and 1808 Paterson was also appointed Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen's Land (northern half). (Van Diemen's Land is now called Tasmania). In 1806 Paterson's duties as commander of the New South Wales Corps
New South Wales Corps
The New South Wales Corps was formed in England in 1789 as a permanent regiment to relieve the marines who had accompanied the First Fleet to Australia. The regiment, led by Major Francis Grose, consisted of three companies...
required him to return to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, but he went back to Van Diemens's Land in 1807, and stayed until December 1808. During this time he corresponded regularly with the eminent naturalist Sir Joseph Banks, sending a number of specimens.
Personal life
Paterson was appointed Governor of New South Wales on 1 January 1809 after the deposition of Governor Captain William BlighWilliam Bligh
Vice Admiral William Bligh FRS RN was an officer of the British Royal Navy and a colonial administrator. A notorious mutiny occurred during his command of HMAV Bounty in 1789; Bligh and his loyal men made a remarkable voyage to Timor, after being set adrift in the Bounty's launch by the mutineers...
in the so-called "Rum Rebellion
Rum Rebellion
The Rum Rebellion of 1808 was the only successful armed takeover of government in Australia's history. The Governor of New South Wales, William Bligh, was deposed by the New South Wales Corps under the command of Major George Johnston, working closely with John Macarthur, on 26 January 1808, 20...
", but was replaced by the newly arrived Lachlan Macquarie
Lachlan Macquarie
Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB , was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony...
by the end of the year because of failing health. He left Sydney for England on 12 May 1810, but died on board HMS Dromedary
HMS Howe (1805)
HMS Howe was originally a teak-built Indian mercantile vessel, the Kaikusroo, which Admiral Edward Pellew bought in 1805 to serve as a 40-gun frigate. In 1806 the Admiralty fitted her out as a 24-gun storeship and renamed her HMS Dromedary...
while off Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
just a few weeks later.
His widow Elizabeth married Francis Grose in April 1814, but he died a month later.
External links
- Short biography from the Australian National Botanic GardensAustralian National Botanic GardensThe Australian National Botanic Gardens are located in Canberra and are administered by the Australian Government's Department of the Environment and Heritage....