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although Flinders had sailed from England fifty-one days after Baudin. Baudin’s problems increased when he
sailed into Mauritius, as some of his crew, both scientific and navigational, decided to leave the expedition and
return to France. There was conflict between the two sections of his crew and the large number of scientists on
board grew intolerant of Baudin’s authoritarian approach. To them he was of inferior social standing, an officer
raised from the ranks.
Baudin took on new crewmembers and continued with his expedition, sighting the coast of New Holland in
May 1801. He steered north up the western coastline and along the northern coastline before turning north to
Timor. He replenished supplies and rested the sick for two months and then the Geographe sailed to Tasmania.
Baudin spent three months in this region, charting the coastline and collating information about the Aborigines.
He then sailed westward along the southern coast of the continent where he met Flinders in Encounter Bay.
The two men exchanged information about geographical features and charts. Flinders continued eastward toward
Port Jackson and Baudin sailed to Kangaroo Island, with Flinders’ chart of the area for guidance, and then to the
Spencer Gulf region. From there he turned eastward for Port Jackson, meeting Flinders there in June 1802.
Flinders invited Baudin and his officers aboard the Investigator to dine. Flinders showed Baudin one of his
charts of the south coast of the mainland with the French discoveries marked. Baudin expressed surprise at how
small the section was but did not object to the limits assigned to him. Baudin stayed in Port Jackson until November
1802, allowing his crew to recover and enjoy the hospitality offered. Baudin acquired another vessel, Casuarina,
and when they recommenced their voyage, Hamelin sailed Naturaliste back to France with the sick and many of
their scientific specimens: Freydnet commanded Casuarina and with Baudin in command of Geographe the latter
two vessels set sail for Bass Strait and more explorations.
Baudin again travelled the southern coastline, western and northern coasts checking much of the information
they had gained on their first voyage. A stop was again made in Timor with the intention to continue exploration
in Torres Strait and the Gulf of Carpentaria. However, so many of the crew were debilitated by sickness, including
Baudin, that course was altered for Mauritius. The Geographe reached Mauritius in August and Baudin died there
on 16 September, of tuberculosis.
Baudin’s expedition was responsible for much of the charting of the coastline of Tasmania; the coastline
of South Australia extending eastward 250 kilometres from Encounter Bay; parts of the Western Australian
and Northern Territory coastline. Names across the northern coast show the progress of his expedition—
Josef Bonaparte Gulf, Peron Islands, Lacrosse Island, Cape Dombey, Cape Helvetius and Cape Fourcroy. Much of
the credit for scientific and navigational knowledge obtained belongs to Hamelin, the second in command and to
Lieutenant Freycinet.
Baudin’s position on the voyage was that of administrator and he certainly saw his commander’s role as being
to impose law and order ‘maitre après Dieu’. As instigator of the voyage, he took his responsibilities seriously and
was aware of the confidence shown in him by the Institut in Paris and the high expectations of success they had of
the expedition. He was aware of his inadequacies in seamanship and hydrography; this was shown at his meeting
with Flinders when he pleaded ignorance of notes on a chart of Bass and his lack of knowledge at the extent of
French exploration.
Baudin was very conscious of his position and would not request or accept advice from his crew regarding
sailing manoeuvres or navigation, and in turn received no respect or loyalty from his crew. His reputation was very
important to him. In June 1802 Geographe had to be assisted into Sydney Harbour, but no mention of this is made
in Baudin’s diary, or of the second meeting with Flinders.
Despite his arrogant manner there was some humour lurking in him, as shown when Governor King sent out
a party to follow Baudin’s vessels, convinced they were intending to found a settlement in Bass Strait. The two
parties met on King Island and Baudin denied any intention of a French settlement. The young British officer in
command, still cautious, hoisted the British flag amongst the French tents and Baudin sent a letter to King stating:
‘That childish ceremony was ridiculous, and has become more so from the manner in which the flag was placed,
the head being downwards and the attitude not very majestic... I thought at first it might have been a flag which
had served to strain water and then hung out to dry.’
Baudin’s achievements are perhaps overshadowed by the human conflict and sickness that plagued the voyage.
Baudin was ambitious, caught up in the politics of the era, and with his Gallic zeal liberally bestowed French
names on Australia. ‘French men of science are also French patriots.’ Ironically, the publication of his diary did
not occur until 1974 and then in an English translation.
Journal of Nicolas Baudin 1800–1803, translated by Christine Cornell, 1974; M Flinders, A Voyage to Terra Australia, vol 1, 1814;
A Grenfell-Price, Island Continent, 1972; G Ingleton, Charting a Continent, 1944; C C Macknight (ed), The Farthest Coast, 1969; E Newby,
The World Atlas of Exploration, 1975; N J B Plomley, The Baudin Expedition and the Tasmanian Aborigines 1802, 1983.
J STEEL, Vol 1.BAUER, FRANCIS HARRY (SLIM) (1918– ), farmer, geographer and academic, was born at a hamlet called
Reading Center in the State of New York, United States of America, on 5 August 1918, the son of Gustus and
Cornelia Bauer. His childhood was spent on the family farm where they kept cattle and cultivated a variety of field
crops; his early education was in a one-room country primary school and at the Watkins Glen High School.
After schooling, his early working life was spent in physical pastimes such as working on a power line, working
at a salt works and at a lumber camp in California until he enlisted in the United States Army in 1941. He was
first sent to Hawaii and, after Pearl Harbour, he was sent to Fiji, Guadalcanal and Bougainville. In 1945 he was
demobbed from the army with an interest in further travel and an opportunity to undertake tertiary study.