Flinders had rejoined the Reliance, which had…

Flinders had rejoined the Reliance, which had set sail for England in March 1800.

Flinders' work has come to the attention of many of the scientists of the day, in particular the influential Sir Joseph Banks, to whom Flinders has dedicated his Observations on the Coasts of Van Diemen's Land, on Bass's Strait, etc..

Banks has used his influence with Earl Spencer to convince the Admiralty of the importance of an expedition to chart the coastline of New Holland.

As a result, Flinders had been given command of the Investigator, a 334-ton sloop, in January 1801, and promoted to Commander the following month.

Flinders had married longtime friend Ann Chappelle (1772–1852) on April 17, 1801.

Flinders had hoped to bring her with him to Port Jackson, contrary to the Admiralty's rules against wives accompanying captains.

Despite these rules, Flinders had brought her on board and meant to take her to Australia, though his attempt was discovered when his ship ran aground while they were below deck; subsequently, he was chastised by the Admiralty.

As a result, she had been obliged to stay in England, and they will not see each other for nine years.

Matthew and Ann will have one daughter, Anne, born April 1, 1812, who will later marry William Petrie (1821–1908) and become the mother of the eminent archaeologist and Egyptologist, William Matthew Flinders Petrie.

The Investigator had set sail for New Holland on July 18, 1801.

Attached to the expedition is the botanist Robert Brown, botanical artist Ferdinand Bauer and landscape artist William Westall.

Due to the scientific nature of the expedition, Flinders had been issued with a French passport, despite England and France being at war.

Aboard the Investigator, Flinders reaches and names Cape Leeuwin on December 6, 1801, and proceeds to make a survey along the southern coast of the Australian mainland.