John King (explorer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John King
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John King, circa 1861
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| Born | 5 December 1838 Moy, County Tyrone, Ireland
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| Died | 15 January 1872 (aged 33) St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
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| Burial place | Melbourne General Cemetery |
| Alma mater | Royal Hibernian Military School |
| Occupation | Soldier, camel handler, explorer |
| Known for | Survivor of the Burke and Wills expedition and first European to cross Australia from north to south |
John King (born December 15, 1838 – died January 15, 1872) was an amazing Irish-born British soldier who became a famous Australian explorer. He is best known as the only survivor of a small group of four men from the challenging Burke and Wills expedition. This expedition was the first time Europeans crossed Australia from the south to the north, traveling all the way from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Contents
John King's Early Life and Education
John King was born in a place called Moy in County Tyrone, Ireland on December 15, 1838. He was the youngest of six children.
When he was young, John went to the Royal Hibernian Military School in Dublin. This was a special school for children of soldiers. After finishing school in 1853, at just 14 years old, he joined the 70th Regiment of the British Army. Soon after, he was sent to India with his regiment.
Life in India and a New Opportunity
John King arrived in India in late 1853. His army regiment was stationed in places like Cawnpore and Peshawar. During his time there, he even worked as an assistant teacher at the Regimental School. He also experienced some important events during the Indian Mutiny, a period of unrest.
After a serious illness, King spent a long time recovering. During this time, he met a man named George Landells. Mr. Landells was in India to buy 24 camels for an exciting new project: exploring the vast deserts of Australia. Camels were perfect for this because they could travel long distances without much water.
King decided to leave the army in January 1860. He then joined Landells to help take care of the camels and the Indian handlers. Together, they sailed to Melbourne, Australia, with the camels in March 1860. This was the start of his incredible journey as an explorer.
Arriving in Australia
John King and the camels reached Melbourne, Australia, on June 8, 1860. The camels were first kept near the Victorian Parliament House. Later, they moved to special new stables at Royal Park, which was the starting point for the big expedition.
The Famous Burke and Wills Expedition
The main goal of the Victorian Exploring Expedition was to cross Australia from south to north. Robert O'Hara Burke was chosen as the leader. William John Wills was the surveyor, mapping the land and observing the stars. John King joined as an assistant, and his experience with camels became very important.
Starting the Journey
The expedition began in Melbourne on August 20, 1860. It was a huge undertaking with 19 men, 27 camels, and 23 horses. They traveled for many weeks, reaching a place called Menindee by October. Here, some changes happened. John King was put in charge of all the camels, a big responsibility!
Pushing Towards the North
Burke decided to split the group at Menindee. A smaller, faster team, including Burke, Wills, King, and another man named Charley Gray, pushed ahead. Their goal was to reach the Gulf of Carpentaria on Australia's northern coast. They finally reached the mangrove swamps near the coast on February 9, 1861. They had made it across the continent! However, heavy rains and swamps meant they couldn't see the open ocean.
The Difficult Return Journey
The journey back was incredibly tough. The explorers were already weak from lack of food and the harsh conditions. Tropical monsoon rains made their progress very slow. Sadly, Charley Gray passed away during the return trip.
When Burke, Wills, and King finally made it back to their supply depot at Cooper Creek on April 21, 1861, they found it empty. The rest of the team, led by William Brahe, had left just nine hours earlier! Brahe had buried a note and some food under a special tree, now known as the Dig Tree, with instructions to "DIG 3 FT NW".
Survival and Rescue
Burke, Wills, and King tried to reach a closer settlement, but they were too weak. Tragically, both Burke and Wills died from exhaustion and starvation around June 28, 1861.
John King was the only one left. He survived thanks to the incredible kindness and knowledge of the local Yandruwandha people. They shared their food and taught him how to find water and survive in the harsh environment. King lived with them for about two and a half months.
In September, a rescue party led by Alfred William Howitt found King. Howitt buried Burke and Wills before taking King back to Melbourne.
John King's Life After the Expedition
When John King returned to Melbourne on November 29, 1861, he was greeted as a hero! People were amazed by his survival story. He received a special gold watch and a yearly payment from the Royal Society of Victoria. However, John King found it hard to be famous. He was still very weak, both physically and emotionally, from his incredible ordeal.
His sister, Elizabeth, took care of him in St Kilda. He even traveled to Tasmania in 1863, hoping the change would help him recover. King later attended the unveiling of a statue honoring Burke and Wills in Melbourne on April 21, 1865.
In 1871, John King married his cousin, Mary Richmond. Sadly, he never fully recovered from the extreme hardships he faced during the expedition. His health slowly worsened. John King passed away on January 15, 1872, at the young age of 33, due to a lung illness. He was laid to rest in the Melbourne General Cemetery.
It's interesting to note that John King was not related to another explorer named Stephen King, who was also exploring Australia around the same time.
