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Major Thomas Mitchell was born in Craigend, Scotland, in 1792. He came to Australia after serving in the Army during the Napoleonic Wars, and took up the position of Surveyor-General of New South Wales. In this capacity, he undertook numerous expeditions of exploration into the NSW interior.
Mitchell's first expedition was to investigate rumours of a north-flowing river situated in northern New South Wales: a river that did not exist, but stories of which were spread by an escaped convict. He departed in November 1831. He discovered the lower courses of the Peel (Namoi), Gwydir, and Dumaresq Rivers and identified the Upper Darling.
Mitchell's second journey set out on 7 April 1835 from Boree Station, to follow and map the course of the Darling River which Sturt had discovered some years earlier. Mitchell was determined to prove Sturt wrong in the latter's belief that the river flowed southward into the Murray, as Mitchell believed it must flow northwest. After travelling for several months and following the Darling for almost 500km, Mitchell was forced to admit that Sturt was indeed correct.
On his third journey, Mitchell discovered the rich farming country of western Victoria, which he named "Australia Felix", or "Happy Australia". Prior to reaching this district, Mitchell found significant grazing land south of the Murray River. South of the Murray he discovered the Avoca and Glenelg Rivers. He then went on to discover the Campaspe and Wimmera Rivers and reached the coast near Cape Northumberland. This journey was in 1836.
Mitchell departed on his fourth and final expedition on 16 December 1845, with Edmund Kennedy as his second in command, in search of a great river that he believed must flow from southern Queensland to the Gulf of Carpentaria. He left from Orange in central New South Wales, and headed into what is now western Queensland. Mitchell discovered and named the Balonne, Warrego, Culgoa, Barcoo and Belyando rivers, which mostly flowed south-west into the Darling.
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Why did Sir Thomas Mitchell explore?
One of Sir Thomas Mitchell's primary motivations was pride. Mitchell was determined to prove Sturt was wrong when he said that the Darling River flowed into the Murray. He felt it was a great indignity that Sturt, whom he regarded as inexperienced, was sent on the important expedition of charting the NSW interior. Mitchell was also a very skilled surveyor and accurate map-maker. If the new country was going to be explored and charted, he wanted to be sure it was done accurately.
Dates of Charles Sturt and Thomas Mitchell's expeditions?
For dates and places Charles Sturt and Thomas Mitchell explored, see the related questions.
Who sent Lewis and clark west to explore?
President Thomas Jefferson sent them to explore the "Louisiana Purchase" as they called it.
Was Thomas Mitchells explore a success?
yes
What hardship did Major Thomas Mitchell face in his journey to Australia?
Major Thomas Mitchell did not face any hardships on his journey to Australia. However, while he was exploring through Australia's interior, he encountered some difficulties. His main problems centred around encounters with hostile Aborigines, and he lost several men in these, not to mention the aboriginal men who were also killed.Thomas Mitchell was a highly intelligent and disciplined man, but he was also very arrogant, and tended to think his way was superior to that of others. He ran his expeditions like he planned to conquer the country - not just explore it. As a result he had very high expectations of his men and of himself, and he was constantly frustrated by not being able to find any good land of substance, until he came across the fertile western Victoria region.
Where did Major Thomas Mitchell die?
Major Thomas Mitchell died at his home at Darling Point, Sydney, New South Wales on 5 October 1955.
Did Major Thomas Mitchell have a wife?
yes he did have a wife
How old was major thomas mitchell when he died?
He was 74
When was Mitchell Thomas born?
Major Thomas Mitchell, explorer of Australia, was born in Craigend, Scotland, on either June 15 or 16, 1792.
Did Thomas Mitchell explore on a boat?
Thomas Mitchell's explorations were primarily overland, but he did take a couple of collapsible boats when he explored along the Darling. He found that the varying water levels and the snags in the Darling made the boats quite useless.
How did Thomas Mitchell die?
Thomas Mitchell died from bone cancer
What is Thomas Mitchell's birthday?
Thomas Mitchell was born on July 11, 1892.
When was Thomas Walter Mitchell born?
Thomas Walter Mitchell was born in 1906.
When did Thomas Walter Mitchell die?
Thomas Walter Mitchell died in 1984.
When was Thomas R. Mitchell born?
Thomas R. Mitchell was born in 1783.
When was Thomas Mitchell Peirce born?
Thomas Mitchell Peirce was born in 1865.
When did Thomas B. Mitchell die?
Thomas B. Mitchell died in 1876.
