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Count Paweł Edmund Strzelecki also known as Sir Paul Edmund de Strzelecki KCB CMG FRGS MRS (July 20, 1797 - October 6, 1873), was a Polish nobleman, explorer and geologist. In Polish his surname is pronounced [stʂɛˈlɛtski] (approx. "stshe-LETSky"), but in Australia his surname and things named after him are usually pronounced /strɛzˈlɛki/ "strez-LETZKy".
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Early years
Born in Głuszyna near Poznań (today part of Poznań) in South Prussia as the third child of Franciszek Strzelecki, a small landed proprietor and his wife, Anna Raczyńska.1 In Australia Strzelecki took the title of 'Count', but his parents were not titled and it is not known on what his claim was based. Strzelecki was educated in Warsaw and then lived in Kraków. When about 21 he entered the Prussian army, but did not like the strict discipline and resigned his ensign's commission. Not long after he attempted an elopement with a girl of 15, Adyna Turno, but she was overtaken on the way to their meeting-place, and Strzelecki, provided with funds by his family, found it wise to leave the district. He eventually came under the notice of Prince Sapieha who placed him in charge of a large estate in Russian Poland. He was then about 26 years of age and appears to have been successful in the carrying out of his duties. Some years later the prince died and in 1830, trouble arose between his Sapieha's heir and Strzelecki amid the national uprising against tsarist Russia. Strzelecki was forced to leave Poland and went to England.1
Early in 1834 he paid a visit to the continent and on 8 June 1834 he sailed from Liverpool to New York. He travelled much in North and South America, Cuba, Tahiti and the South Sea Islands, and came to New Zealand probably about the beginning of 1839.1
Australia
He arrived at Sydney on 25 April 1839, where, at the request of the Governor of New South Wales, George Gipps, he made a geological and mineralogical survey of the Gippsland region of eastern Victoria, where he made many discoveries, including in 1839, being the first person to discover gold in Australia. Gipps feared the effects of gold discovery on the colony and persuaded Strzelecki to keep it secret.1
Later, in 1839 he set out on an expedition into the Australian Alps and explored the Snowy Mountains with James Macarthur. In 1840 he climbed the highest peak in Australia and named it Mount Kosciuszko, to honour Tadeusz Kościuszko, one of the national heroes of Poland and an American War of Independence war hero. From there he made a journey through Gippsland. After passing the La Trobe River it was found necessary to abandon the horses and all the specimens that had been collected, and try to reach Western Port. For 22 days they were on the edge of starvation, and ultimately only saved by the knowledge and hunting ability of Charley, an aboriginal member of the party who caught native animals which were eaten. The party arrived at Western Port on 12 May practically exhausted. Melbourne was reached on 28 May 1840.
From 1840 to 1842, and based in Launceston he explored nearly every part of Tasmania, usually on foot with three men and two pack horses, the then Governor John Franklin affording him every help in his scientific endeavours.
He left Tasmania on 29 September by steamer and arrived at Sydney on 2 October 1842. He was collecting specimens in northern New South Wales towards the end of that year, and on 22 April 1843 he left Sydney after having travelled 11,000 km (7,000 miles) through New South Wales, Victoria & Tasmania examining the geology along the way. He went to England after visiting China, the East Indies and Egypt. In 1845 he published his Physical Description of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land.
Europe
He arrived back to London in 1849 where he was made a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and awarded a Gold medal for "exploration in the south eastern portion of Australia". The society still displays his huge geological map of NSW and Tasmania for public viewing. He was also made a member of the Royal Society. He gained widespread recognition as an explorer as well as a philanthropist.
Towards the end of 1846, the Irish Famine was underway and the British Relief Association formed with the sum of £500,000 subscribed for the relief of the sufferers. Strzelecki was appointed an agent to superintend the distribution of supplies in County Sligo and County Mayo. He devoted himself to his task with success, though for a time incapacitated by famine fever. In 1847-8 he continued his work in Dublin as sole agent for the association. In recognition of his services he was made a Companion of the Bath in November 1848. He helped impoverished Irish families to seek new lives in Australia. He was also active in helping injured soldiers during the Crimean War (being personally acquainted with Florence Nightingale).
Awards
He was awarded:
- an honorary degree from the University of Oxford
- the Order of St. Michael and St. George
- Knight Companion of the Bath
Writing
- Physical Description of New South Wales. Accompanied by a Geological Map, Sections and Diagrams, and Figures of the Organic Remains (London, 1845).
Eponyms
- Australia
- Strzelecki Ranges, Victoria, in which is located the township of Strzelecki. The Strzelecki railway line runs through the ranges to the township.
- Mount Strzelecki, Northern Territory
- Strzelecki Peak, Flinders Island
- Strzelecki Creek, South Australia
- Strzelecki Highway, Victoria
- Strzelecki Track, South Australia
- Strzelecki Desert, east of Lake Eyre in South Australia
- Strzelecki Scenic Lookout, Newcastle, New South Wales
- Canada
- Strzelecki Harbour
References
- Sir Paul Edmund de Strzelecki. Reflections of his life by Lech Paszkowski, Australian Scholary Publishing, 1997
- Sir Paul E. Strzelecki: A Polish Count's Explorations in 19th Century Australia by Marian Kaluski, A E Press, Melbourne, 1985, ISBN 0 86787 039 7
- ^ a b c d Pawel Strzelecki, Dictionary of Australian Biography Serle, Percival (1949). "Strzelecki, Pawel". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. http://gutenberg.net.au/dictbiog/0-dict-biogSt-Sy.html#strzelecki1.
See also
- George Gipps - Governor of New South Wales
External links
- Mt Kosciuszko Inc. an organisation of Polish emigrants, was established in Perth, Western Australia in 2002 to raise public interest in the early history of Mount Kosciuszko and Strzelecki's cultural contributions.
- Prominent Poles at angelfire.com
- Strzelecki at Australian Dictionary of Biography - online edition
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 5 January 2009, at 13:12.
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