Gregory Blaxland

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Gregory Blaxland

Gregory Blaxland (17 June 1778 – 1 January 1853) was a pioneer farmer and explorer in Australia.

1 Early life
2 Blue Mountains expedition
3 Later years
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Early life

Blaxland was born in Fordwich, Kent, England, the fourth son of John Blaxland senior who was mayor 1767–1774 and whose family owned nearby estates for years. In July 1799 Blaxland married Eliza, daughter of John Spurdon.

The Blaxlands were friends of Joseph Banks who seems to have been an influence in the decision of the Blaxland brothers to emigrate. Gregory Blaxland arrived in Sydney, Australia in April 1806, followed soon by his brother John Blaxland a year later as a free settler. In 1808 the Blaxlands were associated with the Macarthur faction in the deposing of Governor Bligh. Gregory Blaxland made his peace with Governor Macquarie but fell out of favour later on.

[edit] Blue Mountains expedition

Exploration of Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth

In 1813, he led the first known European expedition across the area of the Great Dividing Range known as the Blue Mountains, along with William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth, on a journey which would open up the inland of the continent.

Blaxland visited England and in February 1823 he published his Journal Of A Tour Of Discovery Across The Blue Mountains:

"On Tuesday, May 11, 1813, Mr. Gregory Blaxland, Mr. William Wentworth, and Lieutenant Lawson, attended by four servants, with five dogs, and four horses laden with provisions, ammunition, and other necessaries, left Mr. Blaxland's farm at the South Creek, for the purpose of endeavouring to effect a passage over the Blue Mountains ..."

Later the same year Blaxland was awarded the silver medal of the Royal Society of Arts for some wine he had exported to London, and five years later he received its gold medal. In January 1827 Blaxland was elected by a public meeting with two others to present a petition to Governor Darling asking that "Trial by jury" and "Taxation by Representation" should be extended to the colony.

[edit] Later years

Blaxland is also noted as one of the first settlers to plant grapes for wine-making purposes. He was engaged during the next few years in wine-making. and other activities, but took no prominent part in the life of the colony. For the last six months of his life he was suffering a great deal with pains in his head which affected his mind, and he committed suicide on 1 January 1853. He was survived by his sons and daughters. He is buried in All Saints Cemetery in Parramatta.

The township of Blaxland in the Blue Mountains is named after him, as is the Australian Electoral Division of Blaxland.