Edward John Eyre

Edward John Eyre (5 August, 1815 - 30 November, 1901).

Related Topics:
5 August - 1815 - 30 November - 1901

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Born in Hornsea, Yorkshire, Eyre was an English land explorer of the Australian continent. Lake Eyre and the Eyre Peninsula, both in South Australia, and the Eyre Highway (the main highway from South Australia to Western Australia) are named in his honour.

Related Topics:
Hornsea - Yorkshire - English - Australian - Lake Eyre - Eyre Peninsula - South Australia - Eyre Highway - Western Australia

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Eyre, together with his Aboriginal companion Wylie, was the first European to traverse the coastline of the Great Australian Bight and the Nullarbor Plain by land in 1840-1841.

Related Topics:
Wylie - Great Australian Bight - Nullarbor Plain - 1840 - 1841

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In addition to exploring inland South Australia and New South Wales, Eyre was instrumental in maintaining harmony between white settlers and aborigines along the Murray River. He later served as Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand (from 1846 under Sir George Grey) and later Governor of several Caribbean island colonies. Whilst Governor of Jamaica he ruthlessly suppressed the Morant Bay Rebellion, and had many black peasants killed. He also authorised the judicial murder of George William Gordon, a mixed-race member of the colonial assembly.

Related Topics:
New South Wales - Aborigine - Murray River - New Zealand - 1846 - Sir George Grey - Caribbean - Jamaica - Morant Bay Rebellion - George William Gordon

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