Biographical entry Moresby, John (1830 - 1922)

Summary

John Moresby joined the 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

Events

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

• Beale, Howard, 'Moresby, John (1830-1922), admiral, hydrographer and explorer', in Douglas Pike (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 5, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1974, pp. 285-287. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A050328b.htm. Details

Journal Articles

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

Online Resources

• 'Moresby, John', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1208939. Details