John Hayes, explorer and British officer of the Bombay Marine and of the British East India Company, passed away on this day.
Born in England, he joined the Bombay Marine when he was 13.
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In 1793, 12 years later, he sailed from Calcutta on a private trading voyage with two chartered ships, to pick up nutmeg from New Guinea. But after passing Timor to avoid adverse weather, he sailed around the southern coast of Australia.
He renamed several geographical features in Tasmania after British officials, such as River Derwent and Risdon Cove. He was the first European to land on Rossel Island.
He passed away at age 63 in Coco Islands when he was returning to Calcutta.
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