Sir Charles Sturt, an English explorer, died in Cheltenham, June 16, 1860. He entered the army at an early age, and in 1825 (being then a captain) was stationed at Sydney, New South Wales. At this time the interior of Australia was almost entirely unknown; and in 1828 Gen. Darling organized an exploring expedition. Oxley ten years before had been stopped by the great swamps W. of the Blue mountains, and this expedition was to penetrate beyond them as far inland as possible. Sturt was attached to the party, and soon took the virtual lead of it. He discovered the Macquarie, Castlereagh, and Darling rivers, and explored a great portion of their valleys. Later he led another expedition, explored the course of the Murrumbidgee, discovered (Juno 14, 1830) the great Murray river, followed it to Lake Alexandria, and returned at the beginning of 1831. The account of these journeys was published in London in 1833, under the title of " Two Expeditions into the Interior of South Australia during the years 1828-'31." His health, and especially his eyesight, had suffered greatly; and he was compelled to rest for several years before undertaking his next expedition, which was overland from Sydney to Adelaide. At Adelaide he was made surveyor general of South Australia. In 1844 he undertook a fourth journey, and, after the greatest hardships in the Stony Desert, reached a point near the centre of the continent.

This expedition he described in a report published in London in 1849. After his return he became registrar general and later colonial secretary of South Australia; but the injury to his eyes resulted in total blindness, and he returned to England. He was knighted a few days before his death.