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Captain Matthew Flinders (16 March 1774 – 19 July 1814) was a distinguished British navigator and cartographer, renowned for leading the first inshore circumnavigation of mainland Australia, then known as New Holland. He is credited with popularizing the name "Australia" to describe the continent, a term he found "more agreeable to the ear" than previous appellations such as Terra Australis.

Flinders embarked on multiple voyages of discovery between 1791 and 1803, with the most significant being his circumnavigation of Australia and an earlier expedition with George Bass that confirmed Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) as an island. These voyages were instrumental in mapping Australia's coastline and understanding its geographical boundaries. In 1798, Flinders and Bass circumnavigated Van Diemen's Land, proving the existence of Bass Strait, which separates Tasmania from the mainland, and further solidified his reputation as an accomplished explorer.

Flinders' most famous expedition commenced on 18 July 1801, when he was appointed commander of HMS Investigator. Accompanied by a team of scientists, including botanist Robert Brown and botanical artist Ferdinand Bauer, Flinders meticulously charted the southern coast of Australia. He named various geographical features, including King George Sound (December 1801), Kangaroo Island (21 March 1802), Port Lincoln, and Encounter Bay (8 April 1802). His encounter with French explorer Nicolas Baudin, despite the countries being at war, is a testament to the spirit of scientific collaboration that marked this era of exploration.

Flinders' circumnavigation of Australia began in 1802, departing from Sydney on 22 July and heading north along the eastern coast. He meticulously mapped parts of what is now known as Queensland and navigated through the treacherous Great Barrier Reef, reaching the Gulf of Carpentaria and Arnhem Land. Key locations explored include Moreton Bay (July 1799), where he named Redcliffe and landed on Coochiemudlo Island, and Hervey Bay (August 1799). His exploration extended to the Torres Strait, where he encountered the Makassan trepangers in February 1803. His expedition was significant not only for its cartographic achievements but also for the detailed observations and records he maintained, which later contributed to the broader understanding of the Australian continent.

In 1803, while returning to Britain, Flinders was detained by the French on the Isle de France (Mauritius) for over six years, a period during which he continued his scientific work. During his captivity, Flinders compiled his findings and advocated for the use of "Australia" as the continent's name.

Flinders returned to Britain in October 1810, where he dedicated himself to writing his seminal work, A Voyage to Terra Australis. The book, published in July 1814, remains a critical document in the history of Australian exploration. Unfortunately, he did not live to see its full impact, passing away on 19 July 1814, just a day after the book's publication.The legacy of Matthew Flinders extends beyond his maps and writings. His contributions to the exploration and understanding of Australia have been commemorated through numerous geographical features named in his honor, including Flinders Island in Bass Strait, the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, and Flinders Bay in Western Australia. Statues and memorials have been erected in locations such as Melbourne, Adelaide, and his birthplace in Donington.