UPDATE AND VIDEO OF EXCAVATION SITE: Remains of Donington-born Matthew Flinders discovered
The remains of Donington's famous explorer son have been found by archaeologists working in London.
A team working on the HS2 high speed rail link discovered a coffin showing that Captain Matthew Flinders was buried on July 23, 1814.
The remains of some 61,000 people buried at the site are being removed from St James's Gardens, where the station for the HS2 rail route will be built near London Euston station.
Archaeologists say they were able to identify the remains of the Donington explorer thanks to a lead breast plate placed on top of his coffin.
Commenting on the discovery ahead of Australia Day on January 26, Helen Wass, HS2 head of heritage, said: "The discovery of Captain Matthew Flinders's remains is an incredible opportunity for us to learn more about the life and remarkable achievements of this British navigator, hydrographer and scientist.
"Captain Matthew Flinders put Australia on the map due to his tenacity and expertise as a navigator and explorer.
"Given the number of human remains at St. James's, we weren't confident that we were going to find him. We were very lucky that Captain Flinders had a breastplate made of lead meaning it would not have corroded.
"We'll now be able to study his skeleton to see whether life at sea left its mark and what more we can learn about him.
"This discovery is particularly exciting for me as an archaeologist as Captain Matthew Flinders was the grandfather of renowned Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie, commonly known as the 'Father of Archaeology'.
"The Flinders name is synonymous with exploration, science and discovery and HS2, through its archaeology programme, will ensure that we maximise the opportunities for further academic and scientific study."
Captain Flinders led the first circumnavigation of Australia and is also said to have named the country.
We reported in October that there were calls for the explorer to be returned to Donington should his remains be found.
John Flinders, a descendant of Matthew Flinders, previously expressed a wish that he should be reburied in Westminster Abbey or his home village in Lincolnshire.
