Robert O'Hara Burke (1821 – c. Year 1821 ( MDCCCXXI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year 28 June 1861) was an Irish soldier and police officer, who achieved fame as an Australian explorer. Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. He was the leader of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first expedition to cross Australia from south to north, finding a route across the continent from the settled areas of Victoria to the Gulf of Carpentaria. In 1860-61 Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills led an expedition of 19 men with the intention of crossing Australia from Melbourne in the south to The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia and bounded on the north by the Arafura Sea (the body of water that lies The expedition party was well-equipped, but Burke was not experienced in bushcraft and his leadership is often blamed for the failure of the project and deaths of seven people in the party.
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Early years
Burke was born in County Galway, Ireland in 1821, the second of three sons of James Hardiman Burke (d. County Galway (Contae na Gaillimhe is located on the West Coast of Ireland. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world January 1854), an officer in the British army 7th Royal Fusiliers, and Anne Louisa Burke nee O'Hara (d. Year 1854 ( MDCCCLIV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment was an Infantry Regiment of the British Army. 1844). Year 1844 ( MDCCCXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year
Robert O'Hara was one of seven children, his brothers were John Hardiman (d. August 1863) and James Thomas and his younger sisters were Fanny Maria, Elizabeth, Hester Albinia (d. 10 November 1866) and Anne Celestine (d. Events 1444 - Battle of Varna: The crusading forces of King Vladislaus III of Varna (aka Ulaszlo I of Hungary and Wladyslaw Year 1866 ( MDCCCLXVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common 1914). James Thomas Burke was a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, and on 7 July 1854 at the battle of Giurgevo became the first British officer killed in the Crimean war. The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers ( RE) and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Year 1854 ( MDCCCLIV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Giurgiu is the capital city of Giurgiu County, Romania, in the Greater Wallachia. The Crimean War, also known in Russia as the Eastern War (Восточная война Vostochnaya Vojna) (March 1854–February 1856 was fought
Military career
Burke entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich in 1835 and then went on to further his education in Belgium. The Royal Military Academy ( RMA) at Woolwich, in south-east London, was a British Army Military academy for the training of Commissioned The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those In 1841, at the age of twenty he entered the Austrian army and in 1842 was promoted to Second Lieutenant in the Prince Regent's 7th Hussar Regiment. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Year 1842 ( MDCCCXLII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common He spent most of his time in the Imperial Austrian Army posted to northern Italy and in 1847 was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest In 1848 he suffered health problems and resigned from the Austrian army after charges against him relating to debts and absence without leave were dropped.
Police career
After returning to Ireland in 1848, he joined the Royal Irish Constabulary. The Royal Irish Constabulary ( RIC) ( Irish: Constáblacht Ríoga na hÉireann) was one of Ireland's two police forces in the early twentieth century He did his cadet training at Phoenix Park Depot in Dublin before being promoted to 3rd Class Sub-Inspector, stationed first in County Kildare and later in Dublin.
Australia
Burke emigrated to Australia in 1853. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Upon arrival in Melbourne he joined the Victorian police force and was initially posted to Carlsruhe as an inspector, but was soon promoted to Senior Inspector and moved to Beechworth. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 Carlsruhe is a small rural town in the Shire of Macedon Ranges between Woodend and Kyneton, alongside the Calder Highway. Beechworth is a well-preserved historical town located in the north-east of Victoria Australia, famous for its major growth during the gold rush days of the mid-1850s He returned to England to fight in the Crimean War, but peace was signed and the war ended before Burke got a chance to enlist and he returned to Victoria in December 1856. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Crimean War, also known in Russia as the Eastern War (Восточная война Vostochnaya Vojna) (March 1854–February 1856 was fought
He returned to his posting at Beechworth and from there attended the "Buckland Valley" riots near Bright against the Chinese gold miners in 1857. Bright (postcode 3741 is a small sized town located in Victoria, Australia, 319 metres above Sea level and in North Eastern Victoria at the southeastern In November 1858 he was transferred to Castlemaine as Police Superintendent.
Burke and Wills Expedition
After the South Australian explorer, John McDouall Stuart had reached the centre of Australia, the South Australian parliament offered a reward of £2,000 for the promotion of an expedition to cross the continent from south to north, generally following Stuart's route. In 1860-61 Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills led an expedition of 19 men with the intention of crossing Australia from Melbourne in the south to South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country John McDouall Stuart ( 7 September 1815 &ndash 5 June 1866) was the most accomplished and most famous of all Australia's inland explorers In May 1860, Burke was appointed to lead the Victorian Exploring Expedition with William John Wills as surveyor and astronomical observer. In 1860-61 Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills led an expedition of 19 men with the intention of crossing Australia from Melbourne in the south to W J Willsjpg|thumb|right|214px| Lithograph of William John Wills]] William John Wills ( 5 January 1834 – June 1861 was an English surveyor who Surveying is the technique and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional space Position of points and the distances and angles between Astronomy (from the Greek words astron (ἄστρον "star" and nomos (νόμος "law" is the scientific study
The expedition left Melbourne on 20 August 1860 with a total of 19 men, 27 camels and 23 horses. Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine Year 1860 ( MDCCLX) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year starting They reached Menindee on 23 September 1860 where several people resigned, including the second-in-command, George James Landells and the medical officer, Dr. Menindee is a small town in the far west of New South Wales, Australia, in Central Darling Shire, on the banks of the Darling River, with a sign-posted Events 1122 - Concordat of Worms. 1459 - Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English Year 1860 ( MDCCLX) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year starting Hermann Beckler.
Coopers Creek, 400 miles further on, was reached on 11 November 1860 by the advanced group, the remainder being intended to catch up. Cooper Creek ( is one of the most famous and yet least visited Rivers in Australia. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1860 ( MDCCLX) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year starting After a break, Burke decided to make a dash to the Gulf of Carpentaria, leaving on 16 December 1860. The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia and bounded on the north by the Arafura Sea (the body of water that lies Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion Year 1860 ( MDCCLX) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year starting William Brahe was left in charge of the remaining party. The small team of Burke, William Wills, John King and Charley Gray reached the mangroves on the estuary of the Flinders River, near where the town of Normanton now stands, on 9 February 1861. John King ( 15 December 1838 – 15 January 1872) was an Irish soldier who achieved fame as an Australian Explorer Mangroves (generally are Trees and Shrubs that grow in saline coastal habitats in the Tropics and Subtropics. The Flinders River is the longest river in Queensland, Australia at about 840 km Normanton ( is a small cattle town in the north of the state of Queensland, Australia, just south of the Gulf of Carpentaria, on the Norman River Events 474 - Zeno crowned as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire. Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Flooding rains and swamps meant they never saw open ocean.
Already weakened by starvation and exposure, progress on the return journey was slow and hampered by the tropical monsoon downpours of the wet season. Gray died four days before they reached the rendezvous at Cooper Creek. The other three rested for a day when they buried him. They eventually reached the rendezvous point on 21 April 1861, 9 hours after the rest of the party had given up waiting and left, leaving a note and some food, as they had not been relieved by the party supposed to be returning from Menindee. Events 753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome ( traditional date) Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
They attempted to reach Mount Hopeless, the furthest outpost of pastoral settlement in South Australia, which was closer than Menindie, but failed and returned to Cooper Creek. Mount Hopeless ( is in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, south-west of Lake Blanche. While waiting for rescue Wills died of exhaustion and starvation. Soon after, Burke also died, at a place now called Burke's Waterhole on Coopers Creek in South Australia. The exact date of Burke's death is uncertain, but has generally been accepted to be 28 June 1861. Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
King survived with the help of Aborigines until he was rescued in September by Alfred William Howitt. This is an article about a class of people as identified and defined within Australian law Alfred William Howitt (17 April 1830 &ndash 7 March 1908 was an Australian Anthropologist and naturalist. Howitt buried Burke and Wills before returning to Melbourne. In 1862 Howitt returned to Coopers Creek and disinterred Burke and Wills' bodies, taking them first to Adelaide and then by steamer to Melbourne where they were laid in state for two weeks. Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth largest city in Australia with a On 23 January 1863 Burke and Wills received a State Funeral and were buried in Melbourne General Cemetery. Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Melbourne General Cemetery is a large (43 Hectare) Necropolis located 2 km (1 Ironically, on that day Stuart and his Companions, having successfully completed the south-north crossing, were received back at a large ceremony in Adelaide.
References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone
- Kathleen Fitzpatrick, 'Burke, Robert O'Hara (1821 - 1861)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 3, MUP, 1969, pp 301-303. The Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB or AuDB is a multi-volume project published by Melbourne University Press. Melbourne University Publishing (MUP is the book publishing arm of the University of Melbourne ( Australia)
- Serle, Percival (1949). "Burke, Robert O'Hara". Dictionary of Australian Biography. The Dictionary of Australian Biography, published in 1949, is a reference work by Percival Serle containing information on notable people associated with Sydney: Angus and Robertson.
- The [Melbourne] Argus, 1861. "The Burke and Wills exploring expedition: An account of the crossing the continent of Australia from Cooper Creek to Carpentaria, with biographical sketches of Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills". Melbourne: Wilson and Mackinnon.
- Bonyhady, Tim, 1991. Burke and Wills: From Melbourne to myth. Balmain: David Ell Press. ISBN 0-908197-91-8.
- Burke and Wills Outback Conference 2003, 2005. The Inaugural Burke & Wills Outback Conference : Cloncurry 2003 : a collation of presentations. Dave Phoenix, Cairns Qld. ISBN 0-646-44702-5
- Clune, Frank, 1937. Dig: A drama of central Australia. Sydney: Angus and Robertson.
- Corke, David G, 1996. The Burke and Wills Expedition: A study in evidence. Melbourne: Educational Media International. ISBN 0-909178-16-X
- Henry, William, 1997. The shimmering waste: The life and times of Robert O'Hara Burke. Galway, Ireland. : W Henry Publisher. ISBN 0-906312-46-9
- Howitt, Alfred William, 1907. "Personal reminiscences of Central Australia and the Burke and Wills Expedition: Presidents inaugural address". Journal of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science. 1907 (Adelaide, 1907. ), 43p.
- Jackson, Andrew, 1862. Robert O'Hara Bourke [sic] and the Australian Exploring Expedition of 1860. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- Manwaring, William Henry, 1970. "A contemporary’s view of Robert O’Hara Burke". La Trobe Library Journal. Vol. 2 (No. 6).
- Murgatroyd, Sarah, 2002. The Dig Tree. Melbourne: Text Publishing. ISBN 1-877008-08-7
- Victoria: Parliament, 1862. Burke and Wills Commission. Report of the Commissioners appointed to enquire into and report upon the circumstances connected with the sufferings and death of Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills, the Victorian Explorers. Melbourne: John Ferres Government Printer.
- Wills, William John, & Wills, Dr William, 1863. A successful exploration through the interior of Australia, from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria: from the journals and letters of William John Wills. London: Richard Bentley.
See also
External links
- Burke & Wills Web A comprehensive website containing many of the historical documents relating to the Burke & Wills Expedition. This is a list of people on the Postage stamps of the Irish Free State between 1922 and 1937 and on the postage stamps of Ireland since 1937, including
- The Burke & Wills Historical Society The Burke & Wills Historical Society.
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