# Notable South Australians/Captain John Hutchinson, R.N.

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Captain John Hutchinson, R.N.,
WHO was for some years the Commander of the South Australian Survey Station, died in the prime of life at North Adelaide, July 9, 1869, a few days after the decease of Lieutenant Guy, who had been associated with him in marine surveying. The services rendered by Captain Hutchinson, and other officers similarly engaged, have been invaluable to shipmasters frequenting these waters; and the Admiralty authorities as well as Colonial Governments have not hesitated to acknowledge the value of the coast surveys effected. Captain Hutchinson entered upon a naval career in the early part of 1842, when a mere lad of thirteen years of age, and was employed exclusively in the exploring and survey departments of the service, where his tastes and qualifications had ample scope. He was first engaged on the English and Irish coasts, under Admiral Bullock and Captain Wolfe, remaining there until 1845, when he joined H.M.S. "Herald," on board which he served until the vessel was paid off in 1852. During this period the "Herald" was surveying in the Pacific Ocean and in the Arctic Seas, where it was sent on a search for the ill-fated Sir John Franklin and the members of his expedition. For services thus rendered Captain Hutchinson received the Arctic medal In 1852 he again rejoined the "Herald," which had been fitted out for an exploring and survey cruise among the South Sea Islands. She sailed for some time in the Coral Sea, and then returned ​home after a nine years' absence. During the greater part of her commission, Mr. Hutchinson was First Lieutenant. In August 1861 he was promoted to the post of commander, and placed in charge of the Admiralty Survey of the sea board of this province. After the trip to the Northern Territory, which impaired his strength, he invalided home,, but returned to the survey schooner "Beatrice" during the following September in renewed health. In January 1869 his hard and incessant duty was rewarded by further promotion to the rank of Naval Captain, a distinction he did not live long to enjoy. On April 5, 1864, the "Beatrice" with Commander Hutchinson and Lieutenant Howard (now of Sydney) proceeded to the Northern Territory, returning in December of the same year. She was dispatched in March 1865, under the direction of Lieutenants Howard and Guy, R.N., and after remaining on active service for many months, returned to Adelaide, September 26, 1866. She was engaged in survey work during the whole time that Mr. McKinlay was in the Territory, and the reports of Commander Hutchinson contained a vast amount of valuable information to navigators of the rivers and seas of the new settlement on the other side of the continent. The charts drawn out as the result of these surveys were as follows:—Adam Bay and the entrance to the Adelaide River for the whole of its course; Vernon Islands, and channels leading into Adam Bay; coast line from Cape Croker to Point Brogden, including islands in Mountnorris Bay; entrance and course of the Liverpool River as far as navigable by boats; coast line from Liverpool River to Cape Stewart; Limen Bight and Maria Island, Gulf of Carpentaria, coast line from Blaze Bay to Anson Bay; coast line from Anson Bay to Point Pierce:. Commander Hutchinson was of kindly disposition, gentlemanly manners, and as may be expected, well-informed on most subjects. "A man, take him all in all, of whom we shall see few of the like again."