CHARLES

See also:

• CHARLES STURT (d. 186g)

STURT (d. 186g)  , English explorer in New South Wales and in South Australia, was born in England, and entered the army, reaching the rank of captain . Having landed in Australia with his regiment (the 39th), he became interested in the geographical problems which were exciting attention . A first expedition (1828) led to the discovery of the Darling river; and a second, from which the explorer returned almost blind, made known the existence of Lake Alexandrina . From his third journey (1844–1845), in which terrible hardships had to be endured, he returned quite blind, and he never altogether recovered his sight . He was appointed surveyor-general of South Australia in 1833, and subsequently chief secretary, which position he held until 1856 when responsible government was introduced, and Captain Sturt retired on a pension and went to live at Cheltenham, England, where he died on the 16th of June 1869, before he could be invested with the dignity 'of K.C.M.G. to which- he had been designated .