The truth is, as related above, that it was named by Hunter on the recommendation of Bass and Flinders; and the two superfluous Wilsons have no proper place in the story.

The Thomas Wilson whose name was thus given to one of the principal features of the Australian coast--a form of memorial far more enduring than "storied urn or animated bust"-- is believed to have been a London merchant, engaged partly in the Australian trade.

Nothing more definite is known about him.
He was as one who "grew immortal in his own despight." Of the Promontory itself Bass wrote--and the words are exceedingly apt--that it was "well worthy of being the boundary point of a large strait, and a corner stone of this great island New Holland." Bass found the neighbourhood of the Promontory to be the home of vast numbers of petrels, gulls and other birds, as is still the case, and he remarked upon the seals observed upon neighbouring rocks, with "a remarkably long tapering neck and sharp pointed head." They were the ordinary Bass Strait seal, once exceedingly plentiful, and still to be found on some of the islands, but unfortunately much fewer in numbers now.

The pupping time was passed when Bass sailed through, and many of the females had gone to sea, as is their habit.

This cause of depletion accounts for his remark on his return voyage that the number was "by no means equal to what we had been led to expect." But, he added, "from the quantity I saw I have every reason to believe that a speculation on a small scale might be carried on with advantage." Foul winds and heavy breaking seas were experienced while the boat was nearing the Promontory.