Thomas Braidwood Wilson facts for kids
Thomas Braidwood Wilson (born in 1792) was an Australian doctor and explorer. He was born in Kirknewton, Scotland.
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Life at Sea
Thomas Wilson studied at Edinburgh University and became a medical doctor. In 1815, he joined the Royal Navy. He traveled to Australia nine times as a doctor on ships carrying convicts.
These sea journeys were often dangerous and full of events. In 1829, his ship, the Governor Ready, was shipwrecked in the Torres Strait. Wilson and some of the crew had to row about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) to Timor for safety!
In 1831, Wilson returned to Hobart Town on the ship John. He brought a hive of bees that had survived the long trip. These bees were thought to be the first European bees ever brought to Tasmania. People were so grateful that they gave him a special gift. It was a snuffbox with an engraving praising him for bringing valuable plants and animals, especially the honeybee, to the colony.
Exploring New Lands
Wilson sailed to the Swan River in Western Australia with Captain Collet Barker. From there, he explored the land around King George Sound. Captain Barker, who was in charge at King George Sound, helped Wilson with supplies for his trips. Wilson named a hill overlooking the future town of Mount Barker after Captain Barker.
During these explorations, Wilson collected seeds and different plant types. He sent them to his friend Allan Cunningham at the Sydney Botanical Gardens. A type of plant from Western Australia, called Grevillea wilsonii, was named after him. A place called Wilson Inlet in Western Australia is also named in his honor. Today, King George Sound is home to the busy town of Albany.
In 1833, Wilson became a member of the Royal Geographical Society. This is a group that supports exploration and geography.
Writing About His Travels
Thomas Wilson wrote about his amazing travel experiences. He published a book in 1835. The book shared details about the shipwreck of the "Governor Ready" and described the British settlements in Australia. It also talked about the customs of the Aboriginal tribes.
In his book, Wilson said he wanted to inform people interested in Australia. He also hoped to entertain the general public with his adventures. He mentioned that he had supervised nearly two thousand prisoners on his voyages without any major problems.
Life as a Farmer
In 1826, Wilson married Jane Thomson in England. In 1836, he moved to Australia with his wife and their two children, Mary (born 1827) and James (born 1833).
Wilson received land grants in the Braidwood district. He settled there in 1835. He was given about 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) of land because of his explorations. He also bought and leased more land, adding another 1,600 hectares (4,000 acres). His family farm was called "Braidwood Farm." When a town was formed nearby, it was named Braidwood in his honor. Wilson gave up some of his land for the new town site.
He became a successful farmer and was known for managing his land well. He also served as a local judge and helped pay for the building of the courthouse in Braidwood. He was involved in many local groups and cared about his community.
After Wilson passed away, his daughter Mary, who was 16, kept a diary. Her diary gives a clear and detailed look into what early life was like for people from other countries living in Australia. This diary is now kept at the National Library of Australia.
His Final Resting Place
Wilson's third child, a son also named Thomas Braidwood, died when he was only five months old in 1837. Wilson built a special burial place, called a vault, for him on top of a hill north of the town. His wife, Jane, died shortly after in 1838 and was also buried there. This spot has a beautiful view over the town of Braidwood. A large pine tree grows next to the vault.
Thomas Braidwood Wilson died in 1843. He was buried with his wife and young son in the vault. The grave site was not well-maintained for a while, but it was later repaired. A path from the town was added after 2006. The route to the site can be a bit hard to find, and it seems not many people visit it anymore.
Community projects helped restore the grave site in 1894 and 1935. Special steps over fences, called stiles, were built in 1988. However, access to the grave site has become difficult since about 2005. Despite this, the community still feels proud of the site and has tried to fix the access issues. The walk to the grave starts at the corner of the Kings Highway and Wallace Street in the north of town and is about 1.3 kilometers (1,400 yards) long. You need to follow the stiles because barbed wire fences block other ways.
Images for kids
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The location of Braidwood Wilson's grave viewed from 80 metres past the first stile.
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The fourth stile and most elaborate on the route to Thomas Braidwood Wilson's grave.
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The grave stone of Thomas Braidwood Wilson. His wife and youngest son are interred here as well.
