William Paterson (explorer)
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Colonel William Paterson (17 August 1755 – 21 June 1810) was a Scottish soldier, explorer, and botanist best known for leading early settlement in Tasmania.
In 1794, Lieutenant Colonel William Paterson, the Lieutenant Governor of the north of Van Diemen's Land and also from the New South Wales Marine Corps, granted more land and convict servants to the military, giving them great powers and undermining Governor Arthur Phillip's good naval government.
He led an expedition to the Hunter Valley in 1801 and up the Paterson River (later named in his honour by Governor King).
In 1804 he led an expedition to Port Dalrymple, exploring the Tamar River and going up the North Esk River farther than previously.
In 1806 his duties as commander of the New South Wales Corps required him to return to Sydney, but he came back in 1807, and stayed until December 1808. During this time he corresponded regularly with naturalist Joseph Banks, sending a number of specimens.
Paterson was appointed Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales on 1 January 1809, and was replaced by Macquarie at the end of the year.
His health had begun to decline; he left Sydney on 12 May 1810 but died on board ship while off Cape Horn just a few weeks later.
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