William Paterson (explorer)

Colonel William Paterson, FRS (born 17 August 1755 and died 21 June 1810) was a Scottish soldier, explorer, Lieutenant governor and botanist best known for leading early settlement in Tasmania. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation   Paterson    when citing a botanical name.

Early years
A native of Montrose, Scotland, Paterson was interested in botany as a boy and trained in horticulture at Syon in London. Paterson was sent to the Cape Colony by the wealthy and eccentric Countess of Strathmore to collect plants, he arrived in Table Bay on board the "Houghton" in May 1777. He made four trips into the interior between May 1777 and March 1780, when he departed. In 1789 Paterson published Narrative of Four Journeys into the Country of the Hottentots and Caffraria, which he dedicated to Sir Joseph Banks.

Career
Paterson was originally commissioned as an ensign in the 98th Regiment of Foot and served in India. He later transferred to the 73rd Regiment of Foot after the 98th's disbandment in 1787. In 1789, he was promoted to captain in the New South Wales Corps. After some time spent recruiting, he arrived in Sydney in October 1791. From November 1791 until March 1793 he served in command on Norfolk Island. Whilst there he collected botanical, geological and insect specimens and sent them to Banks. He also provided seed to the Lee and Kennedy and Colvill nurseries. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in May 1798.

In 1794, Lieutenant-Colonel William Paterson granted more land and convict servants to the military, giving them great powers and undermining Governor Arthur Phillip's good naval government.

In 1794 he served for a year as Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales. In 1800 he was re-appointed to the post and served a second term until 1808. He led an expedition to the Hunter Region in 1801 and up the Paterson River (later named in his honour by Governor King) and in 1804 led an expedition to Port Dalrymple, in what is now Tasmania, exploring the Tamar River and going up the North Esk River farther than anyone previously had managed to do.

Between 1804 and 1808 Paterson was also appointed Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen's Land (northern half). (Van Diemen's Land is now called Tasmania). In 1806 Paterson's duties as commander of the New South Wales Corps required him to return to Sydney, but he went back to Van Diemens's Land in 1807, and stayed until December 1808. During this time he corresponded regularly with the eminent naturalist Sir Joseph Banks, sending a number of specimens.

Personal life
Paterson was appointed Governor of New South Wales on 1 January 1809 after the deposition of Governor Captain William Bligh in the so-called "Rum Rebellion", but was replaced by the newly arrived Lachlan Macquarie by the end of the year because of failing health. He left Sydney for England on 12 May 1810, but died on board HMS Dromedary while off Cape Horn just a few weeks later.

His widow Elizabeth married Francis Grose in April 1814, but he died a month later. Elizabeth died in Liverpool, England in 1839.