William John Wills (1834 -1861)

John 'Jack ' Wills was born in Devon, England on the 5th of January 1834. In London, Wills studied to become a doctor but gave his studies and sailed to Australia with his brother in 1853. Wills' father, a doctor, travelled to Australia later in the same year. At first the brothers worked as farm labourers but later Wills worked in his father's medical practice in Ballarat. Wills studied surveying and astronomy and in 1858 he worked at the Melbourne Observatory. When Burke asked him to join the expedition Wills' job was to be the surveyor, meteorologist and astronomer.

Wills became second-in-command of the expedition after Burke had quarreled and dismissed George Landells from that position.

Wills was a serious, intelligent and loyal man who did his job well, keeping an accurate record of the expedition and a diary from which much was learned about the fatal journey. Wills died in June 1861.

Acknowledge this source in your bibliography like this:
William John Wills (2002). [Online], Available: www.kidcyber.com.au

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updated January 2003