| Birth: | 1821 | | Death: | Jul. 1, 1861 | 
Australian Explorer. A native of Ireland, he migrated to Australia in 1853 where he became a policeman. Although he had no exploration experience, he was chosen by the governemnt of Victoria to lead an expedition across Australia from south to north. Together with William John Wills they are credited as the first men to cross Australia. He made it to Cooper's Creek, the halfway mark, by November, but grew impatient of waiting for the rest of his group to catch up, so he along with three other men began the trek to the northern coast of Australia. The journey was a disaster, one man died on the journey and when he and Wills returned to Cooper's Creek they found few supplies and a note that the men left behind that said they had returned home. Weak, malnourished and with few Bushman skills he and Wills died a slow and painful death, dying of starvation. The third man was found and cared for by Aborigines. (bio by: Bigwoo)
Search Amazon for Robert Burke | | | Burial:
Melbourne General Cemetery
Carlton
Victoria, Australia |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Originally Created by: Bigwoo
Record added: Jun 15, 2005
Find A Grave Memorial# 11177546 |
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Added by:
Bigwoo
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