Ill-starred captains : Flinders and Baudin

The stories of Matthew Flinders (1774-1814) and Nicolas Baudin (1754-1803) tasked by Britain and France respectively to explore and map the largely unexplored continent of Terra Australis (Australia). Flinders, in command of the Investigator, and Baudin of the Geographe and Naturaliste, were both accompanied by scientific teams comprising naturalists, geologists, astronomers and artists. The author interweaves the stories of both men, their voyages and achievements, culminating in Baudin's death on the Ile de France (Mauritius) and Flinders's detention there for over six years. Illustrated and with a bibliography.