William John Wills
William John Wills | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 January 1834 |
| Died | 28 June 1861 (aged 27) Cooper Creek, South Australia, Australia |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation(s) | Surveyor, explorer |
| Years active | 1852−1861 |
| Known for | Burke and Wills expedition |
William John Wills (5 January 1834 – c. 28 June 1861) was a British surveyor who also trained as a surgeon. He was the second-in-command of the Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first expedition to cross Australia from south to north, finding a route across the continent from the settled areas of Victoria to the Gulf of Carpentaria. He and the expedition leader Robert O'Hara Burke both died of exhaustion on the expedition's return journey.