Matthew Flinders

Matthew Flinders was an influential British explorer and navigator in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is best known for mapping the coastline of Australia—helping to define its shape and confirming it was a single continent. Flinders was also the first to use the name “Australia” for the continent. His detailed charts and observations advanced navigation and geography, and his work laid the foundation for future exploration and settlement. Flinders’ efforts greatly improved understanding of the region, earning him recognition as a key figure in the exploration of Australia.