John Moresby | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 15 March 1830 Allerford, Somerset, England |
| Died | 12 July 1922 (aged 92) Fareham, Hampshire, England |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  Royal Navy |
| Rank | Rear admiral |
| Commands held | HMS Endymion |
| Relations | Fairfax Moresby (father); L. Adams Beck (daughter) |
Rear Admiral John Moresby (15 March 1830 – 12 July 1922) was a British naval officer who explored the coast of New Guinea and was the first European to discover the site of Port Moresby.
Moresby was born in Allerford, Somerset, England, the son of Eliza Louisa and Admiral of the Fleet Sir Fairfax Moresby.[1] He joined the navy at an early age as a Volunteer 1st Class in HMS Victor, and rose to take command on 23 January 1871 of the 1,031 ton paddle steamer cruiser HMS Basilisk,[2] in which he made hydrological surveys around eastern New Guinea.[3] During the survey of the southern coast he discovered the harbour which he named Fairfax after his father. The town established there, based on already existing native villages (principally Hanuabada) was named Port Moresby and is now the nation's capital.[4][5]
John Moresby was also searching for a shorter route between Australia and China and on the eastern tip of the island he discovered the China Strait. He continued exploring along the north west coast as far as the Huon Gulf.
On 29 September 1876, Moresby took command of HMS Endymion, remaining in this position until 6 March 1878,[6] when he was appointed Captain-in-Charge of the Royal Naval Dockyard in the Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda.[7]
He was later promoted to rear admiral and died on 12 July 1922 in Fareham, Hampshire, England.[1]
In 1859 he married Jane Willis Scott (? – 1876) of Queenstown, Ireland and had six children:
During the 1890s he lived on Tower Street in Chichester.[8]
