William Paterson (explorer)

William Paterson ( born August 17, 1755 in Montrose, † June 21, 1810 at Cape Horn ) was a Scottish soldier, explorer and botanist who is known for the early settlement of Tasmania. He was Lieutenant Governor of Tasmania and Governor of the British colony of New South Wales.

Biography

Early years

Paterson was born in Montrose, a small port town in Scotland. Even as a youth he was interested in plants. The rich and eccentric Mary Bowes, Countess of Strathmore, sent him to South Africa to collect plants. He reached Cape Town on board the " Houghton " in May 1777. He undertook four explorations to Table Mountain and the hinterland between May 1777 and March in 1780.

Career

Botanist

In Australia, Paterson led in 1801 an expedition into the Hunter Valley and the Paterson River, which was later renamed in honor of Governor Philip Gidley King.

In September 1793, he went to an expedition in vain a way through the Blue Mountains. However, he found the Grose River and discovered some new plants.

In 1804 he founded on an expedition to Port Dalrymple Launceston and the first settlements in northern Tasmania. He explored the Tamar River and went up to the North Esk River, as far as no European had ventured before him to go. During this time in Tasmania he corresponded regularly with the major naturalist and botanist Sir Joseph Banks, and sent him newly discovered plants.

Paterson was reassigned in 1781 to the Scottish 98th Regiment of Foot, where he served in India and in 1783 promoted to lieutenant. After the regiment was disbanded, he returned to England and joined the 73rd Regiment of Foot in 1787.

In June 1789 he was captain of the New South Wales Corps, certainly, on the recommendation of Banks. He graduated a few months training and went then on a sailing ship and reached Sydney in October 1791. Subsequently, he served on a command Norfolk Iceland from November 1791 to March 1793. 1794 he became lieutenant colonel and deputy commander of the New South Wales Corps and worked for Governor John Hunter. During this time he authorized the officers of the Corps more land and prisoners for their services and provided them with great authority.

Between 1804 and 1808 he was deputy governor in the north of the Van Diemen's Land. He founded the first settlement of Yorktown on the north coast of the island. However, this was already abandoned in 1808. Another settlement he founded in 1806 founded on the site of today's Launceston. In the same year demanded the fulfillment of duty in relation to the New South Wales Corps, that he returned to Sydney, but he did not come until 1807 and remained there until December 1808.

In this time had officers of the New South Wales Corps, which also is called The Rum Corps, the trade under control after Arthur Phillip had returned to England for health reasons and not a new governor was appointed. There was not a valid or recognized currency, brandy developed for currency. The Corps ran a flourishing liquor trade, which degenerated into drinking and gambling as well as in numerous crimes and endangered the co-existence of now grown to 4,000 people in New South Wales. Several governors such as John Hunter and Governor Philip Gidley King were in their attempts to limit the power of the officers who failed.

When William Bligh became governor, he took action against the machinations of the officers of the New South Wales Corps and after a court hearing at which officers of the New South Wales Corps openly turned against a court decision of 25 January 1808 and the convicted person not established a decree he was arrested by Colonel Johnstone of the Corps. Johnstone took over the colony and suspended all civil officials. The Lieutenant Governor Foveaux was then staying in London and when he returned, he sat Johnstone from. Foveaux was again deposed by Paterson. Paterson was appointed on January 1, 1809 Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales and entered in June, 1809, to the tip of the New South Wales Corps. Paterson held Bligh still trapped for a while and tried to move him to return to England. To this end, this agreed after much hesitation. With the violent deposition of Bligh many disagreed and submitted petitions for Bligh. The petitioners had Paterson thrown into prison. Lachlan Macquarie relieved him at the end of 1809.

Paterson's health began to deteriorate and he left Sydney on May 12, 1810 to England and died a few weeks later, on board a ship off Cape Horn.

Since 1787 he was married to Elizabeth Driver. They married after his death, Francis Grose in April 1814, but he died a month later.