Person

Moresby, John (1830 - 1922)

Born
15 March 1830
Allerford, Somerset, England
Died
12 July 1922
Fareham, Hampshire, England
Occupation
Hydrographer and Explorer

Summary

John Moresby joined the British navy as a cadet at age twelve. He was made captain in 1865 and in 1871 was sent to Australia (Sydney). Moresby spent the next three to four years travelling to places including New Zealand, Torres Strait Islands, northern Australia, New Guinea and Norfolk Island. On these journeys he carried out hydrographic surveys and tried to halt kidnappings and other pirate activities. Moresby was responsible for claiming New Guinea for the British and named Port Moresby in honour of his father.

Details

Chronology

c. 1842 - c. 1845
Career position - Cadet with the Royal Navy
1845 - 1864
Career position - Midshipman, then lieutenant, then commander
1871
Career position - Sent to the Australian Station on the HMS Basilisk
1874
Career position - Ordered back to England
1876
Career position - Discoveries and Surveys in New Guinea published

Published resources

Book Sections

Journal Articles

  • Ingleton, G. C., 'A Brief History of Marine Surveying in Australia', Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society, 30 (1944). Details

Resources

McCarthy, G.J.

EOAS ID: biogs/P000129b.htm

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"... the rengitj, as a visible mark or imprint on the land, is characterised as a place of origin, the repository of all names, as well as a kind of mapped visual expression of the connection between people and places which is to be carried out in the temporal sequence of the journey." Fanca Tamisari (1998) 'Body, Vision and Movement: In the footprints of the ancestors'. Oceania 68(4) p260