Thomas Braidwood Wilson

Thomas Braidwood Wilson FRGS (30 April 1792 – 11 November 1843) was an Australian surgeon and explorer. He was born in Uphall, West Lothian, Scotland, the son of James, and Catherine Boak.

Sea Voyages
Wilson studied at Edinburgh University and became a Doctor of Medicine. He joined the Royal Navy in 1815 and made nine voyages to Australia as a surgeon-superintendent on convict ships.

The times were very dangerous and many of the sea voyages were eventful. In 1829 he travelled on the return journey of the Governor Ready to Australia when it was shipwrecked in the Torres Strait. Wilson and some of the crew rowed 1000 miles (1609 km) to Timor.

Aboard the ship, John, Wilson returned in 1831 to Hobart Town with a hive of bees, that had survived the trip to Australia, and many European plants. The bees were contended to be the first European bees brought to the continent. Wilson was presented with an engraved snuffbox with the inscription praising him for, "introducing to (the colony) some of the most valuable plants and animals, but especially the honeybee, which are now in a manner become indigenous to it."

Exploration
Wilson sailed in the ship, Amity to the Swan River in Western Australia with Captain Collet Barker. From there he explored the region inland from King George Sound. Captain Barker was the Commandant at King George Sound and provided the provisions for the expedition. Wilson named the hill overlooking the future township of Mt Barker in his honour. During these expeditions Wilson collected seeds and species to bring back to his friend, Allan Cunningham at the Sydney Botanical Gardens. A species of grevillea from Western Australia, 'Grevillea Wilsoni', was named after him. Wilson's inlet in Western Australia is also named after him. This area is now home to the thriving town of Albany.

In 1833 Wilson was granted a fellowship of the Royal Geographical Society.

Journal and Travel Writing
Wilson wrote of his travel experiences in Narrative of a Voyage round the World (London, 1835). . The title page of the book describes the contents as:

...an account of, the wreck of the ship "Governor Ready" in Torres Straits; a Description of the British Settlements on the Coasts of New Holland, more particularly Raffles Bay, Melville Island, Swan River and King George's Sound; also, the Manners and Customs of the Aboriginal Tribes: with an Appendix, containing Remarks on Transportation, The Treatment of Convicts During the Voyage, and Advice to Persons Intending to Emigrate to the Australian Colonies.
 * - by T. B. Wilson, M.D. Surgeon, R.N.
 * Member of the Royal Geographical Society

In the preface Wilson stated that his aim was to inform those interested in "Australian affairs" and provide amusement to the general public. In states further that the informatoin in the appendix was based on his supervision of, "nearly two thousand prisoners, without having met with any difficulty, or disturbance, worth mentioning.''

Pastoral Life
Wilson married Jane Thomson of Durham, England, in 1826 at St Oswalds in Durham. In 1833 he emigrated with his wife and daughter Mary Braidwood Wilson (b. 1827), to Australia. His son, James Braidwood Wilson, was born at sea en route.

The family settled in New South Wales where Wilson was granted 5000 acres (2024 ha) for in recognition of his exploration. The family property was known as "Braidwood Farm" (since changed to "Mona"). When the township was formed it took the name of Braidwood in his honour. He became a pastoralist and was noted for the good management of his land. He also served as a magistrate, and funded the building on the courthouse in Braidwood. He was on many local committees and took an active interest in district affairs.

During the drought and depression of the early 1840s Wilson was declared bankrupt and on 11 November 1843 he committed suicide. His wife and an infant son predeceased him in 1838. At his death his daughter, Mary Braidwood Wilson, was 16. She kept a diary that covered her life after her father's death, and during her marriage to Stewart Marjoribanks Mowle. The diary is now in the National Library of Australia and is seen as a clear and detailed record of early expatriate life in Australia.

External Sources

 * Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Entry
 * Australian National Botanic Gardens profile including picture