Frederick Hasselborough discovers Macquarie Island (1810)

Frederick Hasselborough, an Australian sealer from Sydney, discovered the uninhabited subantarctic Macquarie Island on 11 July 1810 while searching for new sealing grounds. He claimed the island for Britain and annexed it to the colony of New South Wales. The island was named for Colonel Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales. Hasselborough reported a wreck of ancient design, suggesting prior visits by Polynesians or others.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Macquarie Island is a subantarctic island in the south-western Pacific Ocean, located halfway between Tasmania and Antarctica. It is an exposed portion of the Macquarie Ridge, situated where the Australian plate meets the Pacific plate. Ecologically, the island is part of the Antipodes Subantarctic Islands tundra ecoregion. The island's ecology was affected by the onset of European visits in 1810.

Discovery. Frederick Hasselborough, an Australian sealer from Sydney, discovered the uninhabited island on 11 July 1810. He was looking for new sealing grounds. Hasselborough reported a wreck of ancient design, which has given rise to speculation that the island may have been visited before by Polynesians or others.

Claim. Hasselborough claimed Macquarie Island for Britain and annexed it to the colony of New South Wales in 1810. The island was named for Colonel Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821.

People involved

Sources

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