Robert O'Hara Burke | |
|---|---|
 Robert O'Hara Burke
(painted by William Strutt) | |
| Born | 6 May 1821 St Clerans, Craughwell, County Galway, Ireland |
| Died | 28 June 1861 (aged 40) Cooper Creek, South Australia, Australia |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation(s) | Soldier, police officer, explorer |
| Years active | 1841−1861 |
| Known for | Death after leading the Burke and Wills expedition |
Robert O'Hara Burke (6 May 1821 – c. 28 June 1861) was an Irish soldier and police officer who achieved fame as an Australian explorer. He was the leader of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first expedition to cross Australia from south to north, finding a route across the continent from the settled areas of Victoria to the Gulf of Carpentaria. The expedition party was well equipped, but Burke was not experienced in bushcraft. A Commission of Inquiry held by the Government of Victoria to investigate the failure of the expedition was a censure of Burke's judgement.[1]
- ^ "A Compendium of Irish History". Robert O'Hara Burke. Library Ireland. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.