Thomas Braidwood Wilson
Encyclopedia
Thomas Braidwood Wilson FRGS (30 April 1792 – 11 November 1843) was an Australian surgeon and explorer. He was born in Uphall, West Lothian
, Scotland
, the son of James, and Catherine Boak.
The times were very dangerous and many of the sea voyages were eventful. In 1829 he travelled on the return journey of the Governor Ready to Australia when it was shipwrecked in the Torres Strait. Wilson and some of the crew rowed 1000 miles (1609 km) to Timor.
Aboard the ship, John, Wilson returned in 1831 to Hobart Town with a hive of bees, that had survived the trip to Australia, and many European plants. The bees were contended to be the first European bees brought to the continent. Wilson was presented with an engraved snuffbox with the inscription praising him for, "introducing to (the colony) some of the most valuable plants and animals, but especially the honeybee, which are now in a manner become indigenous to it."
. From there he explored the region inland from King George Sound
. Captain Barker was the Commandant at King George Sound and provided the provisions for the expedition. Wilson named the hill overlooking the future township of Mount Barker in his honour. During these expeditions Wilson collected seeds and species to bring back to his friend, Allan Cunningham
at the Sydney Botanical Gardens
. A species of grevillea from Western Australia, 'Grevillea Wilsoni', was named after him. Wilson's inlet
in Western Australia is also named after him. King George Sound is now home to the thriving town of Albany
.
In 1833 Wilson was granted a fellowship of the Royal Geographical Society
.
West Lothian
West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the son of James, and Catherine Boak.
Sea Voyages
Wilson studied at Edinburgh University and became a Doctor of Medicine. He joined the Royal Navy in 1815 and made nine voyages to Australia as a surgeon-superintendent on convict ships.The times were very dangerous and many of the sea voyages were eventful. In 1829 he travelled on the return journey of the Governor Ready to Australia when it was shipwrecked in the Torres Strait. Wilson and some of the crew rowed 1000 miles (1609 km) to Timor.
Aboard the ship, John, Wilson returned in 1831 to Hobart Town with a hive of bees, that had survived the trip to Australia, and many European plants. The bees were contended to be the first European bees brought to the continent. Wilson was presented with an engraved snuffbox with the inscription praising him for, "introducing to (the colony) some of the most valuable plants and animals, but especially the honeybee, which are now in a manner become indigenous to it."
Exploration
Wilson sailed in the ship, governor phillip to the Swan River in Western Australia with Captain Collet BarkerCollet Barker
Collet Barker was a British military officer and explorer. He explored areas of South Australia, Western Australia and Cobourg Peninsula, Northern Territory-History:Barker was born in Hackney, he lived in Newbury as a child...
. From there he explored the region inland from King George Sound
King George Sound
King George Sound is the name of a sound on the south coast of Western Australia. Located at , it is the site of the city of Albany.The sound covers an area of and varies in depth from to ....
. Captain Barker was the Commandant at King George Sound and provided the provisions for the expedition. Wilson named the hill overlooking the future township of Mount Barker in his honour. During these expeditions Wilson collected seeds and species to bring back to his friend, Allan Cunningham
Allan Cunningham (botanist)
Allan Cunningham was an English botanist and explorer, primarily known for his travels in New South Wales to collect plants.- Early life :...
at the Sydney Botanical Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia, are the most central of the three major botanical gardens open to the public in Sydney....
. A species of grevillea from Western Australia, 'Grevillea Wilsoni', was named after him. Wilson's inlet
Wilson Inlet
Wilson Inlet is an inlet located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.The inlet receives water from the two main rivers: the Denmark River and the Hay River and some smaller rivers and streams such as the Sleeman River, Little River and Cuppup Creek...
in Western Australia is also named after him. King George Sound is now home to the thriving town of Albany
Albany, Western Australia
Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
.
In 1833 Wilson was granted a fellowship of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
.
Journal and Travel Writing
Wilson wrote of his travel experiences in Narrative of a Voyage round the World (London, 1835, out of copyright and downloadable in full).. The title page of the book describes the contents as:
- - by T. B. Wilson, M.D. Surgeon, R.N.
- Member of the Royal Geographical Society
In the preface Wilson stated that his aim was to inform those interested in "Australian affairs" and provide amusement to the general public. In states further that the information in the appendix was based on his supervision of, "nearly two thousand prisoners, without having met with any difficulty, or disturbance, worth mentioning.
Pastoral Life
Wilson married Jane Thomson of DurhamDurham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in 1826 at St Oswalds in Durham. In 1833 he emigrated with his wife and daughter Mary Braidwood Wilson (b. 1827), to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. His son, James Braidwood Wilson, was born at sea en route.
The family settled in New South Wales where Wilson was granted 5000 acres (2024 ha) for in recognition of his exploration. The family property was known as "Braidwood Farm" (since changed to "Mona"). When the township was formed it took the name of Braidwood
Braidwood, New South Wales
Braidwood is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, in Palerang Shire. It is located on the busy Kings Highway linking Canberra to Batemans Bay on the coast. It is about 200 kilometres south west of Sydney and about 60 kilometres inland from the coast...
in his honour. He became a pastoralist and was noted for the good management of his land. He also served as a magistrate, and funded the building on the courthouse in Braidwood. He was on many local committees and took an active interest in district affairs.
At Wilson's death his daughter, Mary Braidwood Wilson, was 16. She kept a diary that covered her life after her father's death, and during her marriage to Stewart Marjoribanks Mowle. The diary is now in the National Library of Australia
National Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
and is seen as a clear and detailed record of early expatriate life in Australia.
Death and Grave Site
Wilson's third child, Thomas Braidwood, died at the age of five months on 23rd September 1837 and Wilson built a vault at the top of a hill just north of the town for his burial. His wife died not long after on 29 January 1838 and was also buried in the vault. The location (35°26′2.31"S 149°48′44.8"E) boasts a beautiful view over the town of BraidwoodBraidwood, New South Wales
Braidwood is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, in Palerang Shire. It is located on the busy Kings Highway linking Canberra to Batemans Bay on the coast. It is about 200 kilometres south west of Sydney and about 60 kilometres inland from the coast...
and a large pine tree has been grown adjacent to the vault.
During the drought and depression of the early 1840s Wilson was declared bankrupt and on 11 November 1843 he committed suicide. He was buried with his wife and child in the vault. The grave site fell into disrepair but was repaired and a path from the town added some time after April 2006 . The route to the site is unclear (mapped here) and the absence of a track indicates it is rarely visited. The route commences with the first stile
Stile
A stile is a structure which provides people a passage through or over a fence or boundary via steps, ladders, or narrow gaps. Stiles are often built in rural areas or along footpaths to allow access to an adjacent field or area separated by a fence, wall or hedge...
(35.437818°N 149.801019°W) at the corner of the Kings Highway and Wallace Street at the North end of town and is a 1.3 kilometre walk. You must proceed from stile
Stile
A stile is a structure which provides people a passage through or over a fence or boundary via steps, ladders, or narrow gaps. Stiles are often built in rural areas or along footpaths to allow access to an adjacent field or area separated by a fence, wall or hedge...
to stile
Stile
A stile is a structure which provides people a passage through or over a fence or boundary via steps, ladders, or narrow gaps. Stiles are often built in rural areas or along footpaths to allow access to an adjacent field or area separated by a fence, wall or hedge...
as barbed wire fences block alternative routes. From the second wooden stile
Stile
A stile is a structure which provides people a passage through or over a fence or boundary via steps, ladders, or narrow gaps. Stiles are often built in rural areas or along footpaths to allow access to an adjacent field or area separated by a fence, wall or hedge...
(in poor repair) (35°26′13.75"S 149°48′17.26"E) head to the north east of the paddock to the third metal stile
Stile
A stile is a structure which provides people a passage through or over a fence or boundary via steps, ladders, or narrow gaps. Stiles are often built in rural areas or along footpaths to allow access to an adjacent field or area separated by a fence, wall or hedge...
(35°26′6.22"S 149°48′28.87"E) and from there east to the fourth stile
Stile
A stile is a structure which provides people a passage through or over a fence or boundary via steps, ladders, or narrow gaps. Stiles are often built in rural areas or along footpaths to allow access to an adjacent field or area separated by a fence, wall or hedge...
(35°26′4.36"S 149°48′36.88"E). If the stile is locked proceed north along the fence to the gate
Gate
A gate is a point of entry to a space enclosed by walls, or a moderately sized opening in a fence. Gates may prevent or control entry or exit, or they may be merely decorative. Other terms for gate include yett and port...
. From here the route is obvious.
External sources
- Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Entry
- Australian National Botanic Gardens profile including picturecommondant of solitude, the journals of capt collet barker, mulvaney and greene