The Explorers Podcast

In the final super-sized episode (part 8) of the Burke and Wills Expedition, we take a look at the fate of John King – the last unaccounted for member of the VEE. We then cover the aftermath of the expedition, and look at the legacy of Burke and Wills and Victorian Exploring Expedition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 7 of our series, Burke, Wills and King make a desperate stab at making for Mount Hopeless. While much closer than Menindee, the three men do not know the way or have accurate directions. Meanwhile, Wright and Brahe meet up, and make for the depot at Cooper's Creek. In Melbourne, the calls for a search party grown louder and louder with each passing week. People and Places Robert O’Hara Burke – Leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition (VEE) William Wills – British surveyor and astronomer. 2nd-in-command of the expedition. Victoria Exploring Expedition (VEE) – The official name of the expedition led by Robert Burke to cross the Australian continent. Hermann Beckler – German doctor and botanist. Ludwig Becker – German geologist and naturalist. William Wright – Bushman who joined the VEE at Menindee. Now leading the relief column to Cooper’s Creek. John King – 22-year old ex-soldier. Selected by Burke to be part of the contingent going to the north coast. Cooper’s Creek – River in central Australia. It is about halfway across the continent if someone is traveling between Melbourne and Gulf of Carpentaria in the north. About 750 miles from Melbourne. Menindee – Most northerly outpost on the route of the VEE in their trek across Australia. About 400 miles from Melbourne. Gulf of Carpentaria – The most direct route from Victoria to the northern coast of Australia – roughly a 1500 mile journey across the continent. Mount Hopeless - a cattle station about 150 miles southwest of the depot at Cooper's Creek. Alfred Howitt - English explorer and naturalist who will be hired by the Royal Society of Victoria to head north and find out what has happened to Robert Burke and his men. Links, resources and maps: https://explorerspodcast.com/ Map: https://explorerspodcast.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/map-part7.png Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part 6 of our series, Robert Burke and his comrades begin their journey from the northern coast of Australia to the depot at Cooper's Creek. They are low on supplies and their health is waning. Meanwhile, William Wright struggles to get the needed supplies to depot, where the health of William Brahe and his men is deteriorating. People and Places Robert O’Hara Burke – Leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition (VEE) William Wills – British surveyor and astronomer. 2nd-in-command of the expedition. Victoria Exploring Expedition (VEE) – The official name of the expedition led by Robert Burke to cross the Australian continent. Hermann Beckler - German doctor and botanist. Ludwig Becker - German geologist and naturalist. William Wright - Bushman who joined the VEE at Menindee. Now leading the relief column to Cooper's Creek. John King - 22-year old ex-soldier. Selected by Burke to be part of the contingent going to the north coast. Thomas McDonough - VEE member who accompanied Burke and Wills to Cooper's Creek. Charley Gray - VEE member who was selected to go with Burke and Wills to the north coast of Australia.  Cooper’s Creek – River in central Australia. It is about halfway across the continent if someone is traveling between Melbourne and Gulf of Carpentaria in the north. About 750 miles from Melbourne. Menindee - Most northerly outpost on the route of the VEE in their trek across Australia. About 400 miles from Melbourne. Gulf of Carpentaria - The most direct route from Victoria to the northern coast of Australia - roughly a 1500 mile journey across the continent. Resources and links: https://explorerspodcast.com/ Map: https://explorerspodcast.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/burke_and_wills_map.png Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part 5 of our series Robert Burke and William Wills lead a small contingent of men into the outback of Australia in an attempt to reach reach the north coast - and in the process become the first men to cross the continent. People and Places Robert O’Hara Burke – Leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition (VEE) William Wills – British surveyor and astronomer. 2nd-in-command of the expedition. Victoria Exploring Expedition (VEE) – The official name of the expedition led by Robert Burke to cross the Australian continent. John McDouall Stuart – Scottish explorer who was the chief competitor with the VEE to blaze a route across Australia. Hermann Beckler – German doctor and botanist. Ludwig Becker – German geologist and naturalist. William Wright – Bushman who joined the VEE at Menindee. John King – 22-year old ex-soldier. Selected by Burke to be part of the contingent going to the north coast. Dick – Aboriginal Guide who accompanied Burke – and then Lyons – to the north. Thomas McDonough – VEE member who accompanied Burke and Wills to Cooper’s Creek. Charley Gray – VEE member who was selected to go with Burke and Wills to the north coast of Australia. Cooper’s Creek – River in central Australia. It is about halfway across the continent if someone is traveling between Melbourne and Gulf of Carpentaria in the north. About 750 miles from Melbourne. Menindee – Most northerly outpost on the route of the VEE in their trek across Australia. About 400 miles from Melbourne. Gulf of Carpentaria – The most direct route from Victoria to the northern coast of Australia – roughly a 1500 mile journey across the continent. Selwyn Range - Rugged mountain range in the interior of Australia that the expedition would need to cross. Find maps and reading resources at: https://bit.ly/3eOMH0k Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part 4 of our series, Burke and Wills travel north to Cooper's Creek, where they establish a supply depot. Burke will spend a month scouting the area to the north, before finally departing for the north coast in mid-December. At Menindee, William Wright waits for money to buy more horses so he can haul all the supplies to Burke's new camp. Meanwhile, a policeman, Trooper Myles Lyons, strikes out for Cooper's Creek carrying dispatches for Burke. People and Places Robert O’Hara Burke – Leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition (VEE) William Wills – British surveyor and astronomer. 2nd-in-command of the expedition. Victoria Exploring Expedition (VEE) – The official name of the expedition led by Robert Burke to cross the Australian continent. John McDouall Stuart – Scottish explorer who was the chief competitor with the VEE to blaze a route across Australia. Hermann Beckler - German doctor and botanist. Ludwig Becker - German geologist and naturalist. William Wright - Bushman who joined the VEE at Menindee.  John King - 22-year old ex-soldier. Selected by Burke to be part of the contingent going to the north coast. Trooper Myles Lyons - Policeman from Swan Hill bringing dispatches to Robert Burke.  Alexander McPherson - Saddler who would join Lyons and Dick in an attempt to reach Burke at Cooper's Creek. William Hodgkinson - Journalist who joined the expedition at Swan Hill. Dick - Aboriginal Guide who accompanied Burke - and then Lyons - to the north. Peter - Aboriginal Guide who accompanied Hermann Beckler to rescue Lyons and MacPherson. Thomas McDonough - VEE member who accompanied Burke and Wills to Cooper's Creek. Charley Gray - VEE member who was selected to go with Burke and Wills to the north coast of Australia.  Cooper’s Creek – River in central Australia. It is about halfway across the continent if someone is traveling between Melbourne and Gulf of Carpentaria in the north. About 750 miles from Melbourne. Menindee - Most northerly outpost on the route of the VEE in their trek across Australia. About 400 miles from Melbourne. Gulf of Carpentaria - The most direct route from Victoria to the northern coast of Australia - roughly a 1500 mile journey across the continent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part 3 of our series, the Victorian Exploring Expedition travels from Melbourne to the frontier outpost of Menindee on the Darling River. Along the way, the VEE will undergo a transformation as many key members will be fired (or resign), and others will join the company. Meanwhile, Robert Burke must dodge an arrest notice, criticism and his own ego to move the VEE forward. Map: https://explorerspodcast.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/map2-1.png People and Places Robert O’Hara Burke – Leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition (VEE) George Landells – Horse trader who brought 25 camels to Australia, and 2nd-in-command of the VEE. Fired upon reaching Menindee. William Wills – British surveyor and astronomer. Named 2nd-in-command of the expedition after the dismissal of George Landells. Victoria Exploring Expedition (VEE) – The official name of the expedition led by Robert Burke to cross the Australian continent. John McDouall Stuart – Scottish explorer who would be the chief competitor with the VEE to blaze a route across Australia. Hermann Beckler - German doctor and botanist. mega at Menindee, but stayed on.  Ludwig Becker - German geologist and naturalist. William Wright - Bushman who would join Burke at Menindee as a guide.  Georg von Neumayer - Professor and member of the Exploration Committee.  John King - 22-year old ex-soldier. Came from India with camels.  William Hodgkinson - Journalist who joined expedition at Swan Hill.  Cooper’s Creek – River in central Australia. It is about halfway across the continent if someone is traveling between Melbourne and Gulf of Carpentaria in the north. About 750 miles from Melbourne. Menindee - Most northerly outpost on the route of the VEE in their trek across Australia. About 400 miles from Melbourne. Gulf of Carpentaria - The most direct route from Victoria to the northern coast of Australia - roughly a 1500 mile journey across the continent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part 2 of our series, Robert Burke and the Exploration Committee hire men for the Victorian Exploring Expedition (VEE), including William Wills - who will serve the expedition's surveyor, meteorologist, and astronomer. The VEE, consisting of 19 men, 26 camels, 23 horse, six wagons, and 200 tons of supplies, then prepares to depart Melbourne in August of 1860. The goal is to be the first men to cross the Australian continent. Key People and Places Robert O’Hara Burke – Leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition (VEE). George Landells – Horse trader who brought 25 camels to Australia, and second-in-command of the VEE. William Wills – British surveyor and astronomer who was named as third-in-command of the VEE. Victoria Exploring Expedition (VEE) – The official name of the expedition led by Robert Burke to cross the Australian continent. John McDouall Stuart – Scottish explorer who is the chief competitor with the VEE to blaze a route across Australia. Hermann Beckler - German doctor and botanist. Ludwig Becker - German geologist and naturalist. Captain Francis Cadell - Steamship owner and member of the Exploration Committee. Offered to take the company's supplies by boat to Menindee.  Julia Matthews - 18 year old actress Burke had fallen in love with. Cooper’s Creek – River in central Australia. It is about halfway across the continent if someone is traveling between Melbourne and Gulf of Carpentaria in the north. About 750 miles from Melbourne. Menindee - Most northerly outpost on the route of the VEE in their trek across Australia. About 400 miles from Melbourne. Gulf of Carpentaria - The most direct route from Victoria to the northern coast of Australia - roughly a 1500 mile journey across the continent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first episode in the Burke and Wills Expedition series provides background to the endeavor - which was an expedition to cross Australia in 1860-61. We are introduced to the organizers of the expedition - Royal Society of Victoria - and its eventual leader, Robert Burke. Key people and places Robert Burke - Irish police superintendent from Castlemaine. Will be named leader of the expedition. Royal Society of Victoria - aka The Society. Scientific society based in Melbourne. They will organize the expedition. Exploration Committee - The committee of the Society which oversaw the Burke and Wills Expedition. Victoria Exploring Expedition (VEE) - The official name of the expedition led by Robert Burke to cross the Australian continent. Sir William Stawell - Key member of the Exploration Committee, and Chief Justice of Victoria. John Macadam - Secretary of the Exploration Committee. John Bruce - Wealthy Australian businessman who supported Robert Burke's bid to lead the expedition. Peter Edgerton Warburton - aka Major Warburton - Police Commissioner of South Australia and candidate to lead the VEE. Gustov von Tempsky - Prussian adventurer and candidate to lead the VEE. George Landells - Horse trader who would bring 25 camels to Australia to be part of the upcoming expedition. Would later be named second-in-command of the VEE. Charles Sturt - British soldier who would explore Australia - discovering Cooper's Creek in 1844.  John McDouall Stuart - Scottish explorer who would be the chief competitor with the VEE to blaze a route across Australia.  Augustus Gregory - Explorer who had gone from Brisbane to Adelaide in 1858. He turned down the opportunity to lead the VEE, but recommended any expedition go to Cooper's Creek and set up a depot - and use it as a base for striking out to the north.  Cooper's Creek - River in central Australia. It is about halfway across the continent if someone is traveling between Melbourne and Gulf of Carpentaria in the north.  William Wills - British surveyor and astronomer who will eventually become the second-in-command of the VEE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between 400-600 BCE, Hanno the Navigator of Carthage, conducted an epic voyage down the west coast of Africa - sailing more than 4,000 miles - reaching all the way to modern-day Gabon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Cossack Vladimir Atlasov explores the Kamchatka Peninsula in the late 1690s - claiming it for the Russian Empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Series wrap up. We look at the aftermath of the siege of Tenochtitlan. We also cover the rest of Cortés' life, and the lives of some of the key players in our series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part 7 of our series on Hernán Cortés and the Conquest of Mexico, the Spanish and their allies converge on the Valley of Mexico and begin the siege of Tenochtitlan - which will signal the end of the Aztec Empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of his defeat at Tenochtitlan, Cortés must fend off the Aztecs at the Battle of Otumba. He must then consolidate his forces, and plot his return to the Valley of Mexico - even while small pox ravages the empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 5 in our series on Hernán Cortés and the Conquest of Mexico, Cortés must deal with threats from the recently arrived Panfilo de Narvaez, and an uprising in Tenochtitlan. Things will end with the La Noche Triste - the Night of Sorrows (hint: that's won't end well for the Spanish).  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part 4 of our series on Hernán Cortés, the Spanish march into Tenochtitlan - the Aztec capital. In doing so, he will come face-to-face with the legendary Montezuma. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part three of our series on Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, the Spanish march west, encountering resistance from the independent Tlaxcalan people, as well as confronting possible treachery in the city of Cholula. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hernán Cortés forges an alliance with a discontented people, and establishes the first European settlement in New Spain - Vera Cruz. Also, he encounters the first emissaries of the Aztec Empire, who offer the Spanish a large bribe to leave their lands. Instead, Cortés becomes determined to travel to the heart of the Aztec Empire - Tenochtitlan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hernán Cortés leads an army to Mexico to seek out the sophisticated lands to the west. The Spanish will find something they never imagined - the Aztec Empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Franklin Expedition disappears in the Canadian Arctic while trying to find the Northwest Passage. Part 2 in our series examines the tragic fate of Franklin, his men and their ships - and the 170+ years of searching for clues to the expedition's ultimate end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1845, Sir John Franklin leads two ships into the Arctic in search of the fabled Northwest Passage. The ships and crew were the finest England had to offer, however, after heading into Lancaster Sound - the entrance to the Passage - neither ship would be seen again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices