George Bass

George Bass (30 January 1771 – after 5 February 1803) was a British explorer, navigator, and ship surgeon, known for his exploration of Australia.

Early life

Bass was born on 30 January 1771 at Aswarby, a hamlet near Sleaford, Lincolnshire, the son of a farmer and a servant. He was baptised by the local Anglican vicar on 14 February 1771.

Career

Bass trained in medicine at the Boston hospital, and at the age of 18, he was accepted in London as a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. He was appointed as ship's surgeon on the HMS Reliance, on which Matthew Flinders served as navigator.

In 1795, Bass and Flinders, accompanied by Aboriginal boy Bungaree, sailed the Tom Thumb out of Port Jackson to Botany Bay and explored the Georges River further upstream than had been done previously by the colonists. Their reports on their return led to the settlement of Bankstown.

In 1798, this time aboard the Norfolk, Bass and Flinders were the first to circumnavigate Tasmania. As a result of their voyages, Flinders was able to convince the authorities that Tasmania was an island.

Later life and disappearance

In 1803, Bass set sail for South America and was never heard from again. His fate remains a mystery.

Legacy

Bass's name is associated with various geographic features, including the Bass Strait, which separates Tasmania from the Australian mainland. Other features named after him include the Bass River, in Victoria, and the suburb of Bass, Western Australia.

See also

• History of Australia
• European exploration of Australia
• List of people who disappeared mysteriously at sea

References

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