Matthew Flinders (1774–1814)From Historical Dictionary of Australia: Navigator and hydrographer, Flinders was born in Dorington, Lincolnshire, England, and joined the navy in 1789. He came to Australia in 1795. In 1798–99, he and George Bass sailed around Tasmania, proving it to be an island. On his return to England, Flinders was promoted to captain and ordered to chart the unknown parts of the Australian coastline, which he carried out between 1801 and 1803. Unfortunately, he was able to survey only about half the coast—from the southwestern corner to the western shore of the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Northern Territory—because of the poor condition of his ship. However, he did complete the first voyage around the Australian mainland.