While there he collected and sent home botanical, geological and insect specimens for Banks, and in 1794 discussed with him the publication of his memoranda on the natural history of Norfolk Island. He was immediately given command of the detachment on Norfolk Island, where he served from November 1791 until March 1793. After spending some months recruiting he sailed for Sydney and arrived in October 1791. In June 1789 he was gazetted captain in the New South Wales Corps, probably owing his appointment to Banks. After the regiment was disbanded in 1785, he returned to England and in 1787 was transferred to the 73rd Regiment. In 1783 he took part in the siege of Carour (Karur) and was promoted lieutenant. He served in India and next year wrote to Banks about specimens from the island of Johanna and his hopes of further finds on the Malabar coast. In 1781 Paterson became an ensign in the 98th Regiment. He made four journeys into the interior after he returned in 1780 he prepared an account of his experiences, entitled Narrative of Four Journeys into the Country of the Hottentots and Caffraria, which he published and dedicated to Sir Joseph Banks in 1789. As a boy he became keenly interested in botany and in 1777, through the patronage of Lady Strathmore, he was enabled to visit South Africa. William Paterson (1755-1810), soldier, explorer and lieutenant-governor, was born on 17 August 1755 in Scotland. State Library of New South Wales, GPO 2 - 04136 William Paterson (1755-1810), by unknown artist
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