Knox Coast, part of Wilkes Land

Wilkes Land

Wilkes Land is a large district of land in eastern Antarctica, formally claimed by Australia as part of the Australian Antarctic Territory, though the validity of this claim has been placed for the period of the operation of the Antarctic Treaty, to which Australia is a signatory...

, is a portion of the coast of Antarctica lying between Cape Hordern

Cape Hordern

Cape Hordern is an ice-free cape, overlain by morainic drift, at the northwest end of the Bunger Hills in Antarctica. Probably sighted from Watson Bluff by A.L. Kennedy and other members of the Western Base Party of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition under Mawson, 1911-14, who charted the west...

, at 100° 31' E, and the Hatch Islands

Hatch Islands

The Hatch Islands are a small island group off the Budd Coast of Wilkes Land in Australian Antarctica. They were named after Ernest B. Hatch, a tractor driver on Operation Windmill....

, at 109° 16' E.

History

The coast was discovered in February 1840 by the U.S. Exploring Expedition (1838–42) under Lt. Charles Wilkes

Charles Wilkes

Charles Wilkes was an American naval officer and explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 and commanded the ship in the Trent Affair during the American Civil War...

, and named by Wilkes for Lt. Samuel R. Knox, USN, captain of the USS Flying Fish

USS Flying Fish (1838)

USS Flying Fish , a schooner, was formerly the New York City pilot boat Independence. Purchased by the United States Navy at New York City on 3 August 1838 and upon joining her squadron in Hampton Roads 12 August 1838 was placed under command of Passed Midshipman S. R. Knox.Assigned as a tender in...

, who served as acting master on the Vincennes during the Antarctic cruise.