Talk:John McDouall Stuart

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[edit] Origin of quote?

Referring to 22 April 1860, the article (as at 4 Jan 2007) gives the following quote:

There is a high mount about two miles to the NNE which I hoped would be in the centre but on it tomorrow I will raise a cone of stones and plant the Flag there and will name it Mount Sturt after my excellent and esteemed commander of the expedition in 1844 and 45, Captain Sturt, as a mark of gratitude for the great kindness I received from him during that journey.

However, the Project Gutenberg (Link) digital version of Stuart's journals (and Tim Flannery's book: The Explorers, pg 257 in paperback edition) gives this as the equivalent entry for that day:

There is a high mount about two miles and a half to the north-north-east. I wish it had been in the centre; but on it to-morrow I will raise a cone of stones, and plant the flag there, and name it Central Mount Stuart.

I have always believed, like the article says, that Stuart named the peak after Sturt and others later renamed it Central Mount Stuart in his honour. Anyone know where the first quote is from? —perhaps his hand written diary? Seems immodest that he would name it after himself in his journal. —PeterWH 09:05, 4 January 2007 (UTC)


OK, problem probably solved. This from Northern Territory Department of Planning and Infrastructure Place Names Register:

Originally called CENTRAL MOUNT STURT by John McD. Stuart on 22 April 1860. The name was changed almost immediately to CENTRAL MOUNT STUART in Stuart's honour and official records have used this name since then. Mona Stuart Webster in "John McDouall Stuart" writes:

Although no conclusive evidence has been found, it seems a reasonable inference that James Chambers was responsible for the alteration. The change robbed Stuart of the opportunity he obviously desired of paying a sincere and generous tribute to his former leader. Also, since Chambers made no public statement on the subject, he left the way open for people to coclude, on reading the diary as published, that Stuart, in naming a place after himself had been guilty of doing what was considered to be extreme bad form on the part of a explorer. Stuart, we know, must have agreed to the change before he left Adelaide in November 1860, because he used the name Central Mount Stuart in the diary of his next journey (1860-61).

Appears that the quote is from Stuart's hand written dairy. Name had been changed before publication of the journal. —PeterWH 13:51, 4 January 2007 (UTC)