George Bass English naval doctor and traveller, explorer of Australia Date of Birth: 30.01.1771 Country: Great Britain

1. The Exploring Life of George Bass
2. Voyage to Australia
3. Discovery of Bass Strait
4. Collaboration and Controversy
5. Further Exploration
6. Disappearance and Legacy

The Exploring Life of George Bass

Born on January 30, 1771, in the English countryside, George Bass hailed from a farming family in Essendine, Sleaford. After completing his medical training at Boston Medical College, he embarked on a naval career as a surgeon in 1794.

Voyage to Australia

In 1795, Bass arrived in Australia, a vast continent still largely uncharted. This sparked his passion for exploration, and he became a vital figure in mapping its eastern coastline.

Discovery of Bass Strait

On December 3, 1797, Bass embarked on a pivotal expedition in a whaleboat to survey the coast west of Cape Everard. Reaching Cape South East, he ventured south but encountered strong winds near 40 degrees south. After seeking shelter on an islet, Bass discovered shipwrecked escaped convicts.

Returning to the boat, he bypassed Wilson's Promontory and established that the Australian mainland's shore turned northwest. Continuing along the coastline for 200 kilometers, he concluded that Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) was an island, not a peninsula.

Collaboration and Controversy

In Sydney, Bass met Captain Matthew Flinders, who had been exploring the same region. Exchanging observations, Flinders challenged Bass's conclusion about Van Diemen's Land's insular status.

Determined to resolve the issue, they embarked together on the "Norfolk" on October 7, 1798. Sailing through the strait from west to east, they circumnavigated Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) and determined several astronomical points.

Further Exploration

During the expedition, they meticulously surveyed the estuaries of the Tamar-Macquarie and Derwent rivers. In the latter, they encountered the indigenous Tasmanians for the second time since d'Entrecasteaux's visit. Additionally, they discovered numerous islands in the strait separating Tasmania from Australia, one of which was named Flinders Island.

Disappearance and Legacy

On February 5, 1803, Bass set sail from Sydney on the "Venus" with plans to explore Tahiti and Chile. However, the ship and its crew, including Bass, vanished without a trace, leaving behind a legacy of significant contributions to Australian exploration and the establishment of Bass Strait.