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- Matthew Flinders, 1774~1814 -
Of Flemish origin, explorer Matthew Flinders played a huge part in putting the island of Tasmania off the Australian coast, on the map.
Born at Donington-on-Holland on March 16, 1774, he spent his early education at schools in Donington and Horbling.
Instead of following the family profession into medicine, Matthew Flinders chose to go to sea, reputedly after being heavily influenced when reading Robinson Crusoe.
Entering the Navy in 1789, he later sailed with Captain Bligh on an expedition to Tahiti in the West Indies, and relished exploring new countries.
After taking control of HMS Investigator, he discovered and charted most of the South Australian coast after setting sail in 1801.
Flinders named places after his family and crew, but never himself.
Among other places with county connections he titled are Port Lincoln, Cape Donington, Boston Island and Sleaford Bay, all in South Australia.
He died on April 19, 1814, just a few days after his book - A Voyage to Terra Austral - was published.
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