Matthew Flinders’ 1801–1803 circumnavigation of Australia in H.M.S. Investigator has become a fabled narrative. Much less well-known are the achievements of Matthew’s youngest brother, Samuel Ward Flinders, whose skills in obtaining astronomical measurements to determine the expedition’s geographic longitudes were remarkable. This book consolidates the widely scattered literature about Samuel’s life and achievements into the astronomer’s first modern biography. Samuel had to bear his own share of misfortunes and injustices, but they are balanced by his significant contribution to the scientific achievements of the voyage of the Investigator. This book contains a conclusive assessment as to whether his bad reputation is warranted by the historic record. This book will appeal to both academics and general audiences. This book is accompanied by over 70 pages of online appendices (hosted under the Support Material tab on the Routledge website) including glossaries of key people, ships, nautical terms, and Indigenous place names. These downloadable resources also include further information on the H.M Ship Reliance, eyewitness accounts, and Samuel Flinders’ court martial. Key features Presents the well-known story of Matthew Flinders’ 1801–1803 Australian circumnavigation told from a different, less obvious perspective; Explores the 18th/19th century’s British–French rivalry half a world from home; The first comprehensive biography of a largely overlooked major personality in the early exploration and colonisation by the British Empire. Richard de Grijs received his M.Phil. (in Physics and Astronomy) as well as his Ph.D. from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. After completing his Ph.D. in Astrophysics in 1997, he held two postdoctoral positions, at the University of Virginia (USA) and the University of Cambridge (UK). In 2003, he obtained his first academic staff appointment, at the University of Sheffield (UK), and in 2009 he joined the Kavli Institute for
This book is the first modern biography of the astronomer Samuel Ward Flinders, the youngest brother of Matthew Flinders. Samuel contributions to the scientific achievements of the H.M.S. Investigator were remarkable, yet his reputation is marred. This book explores these topics, appealing to academics and general audiences.
