Irish, (? - 5 June 1861)

Blacksmith and armourer

Born in Loughriscouse in County Down, Ireland.

At an Ordinary meeting of the Exploration Committee of the Royal Society of Victoria held on Monday, 9 July 1860, Burke submitted a list of persons to join the party, which included Patten.

At an Ordinary meeting of the Exploration Committee held on Friday, 13 July 1860, Burke asked to employ Creber, Langan and Patten immediately to collect the stores.

Patten was appointed to the VEE in July 1860 on a salary of £120 p.a. as the blacksmith (and armourer).

On the 18 August 1860, Patten signed the Memorandum of Agreement at the Royal Society of Victoria.

Original item held at the State Library of Victoria, SLV MS13071, Boxes 2076/1-2076/5 and Boxes 2077/1-2077/4. Royal Society of Victoria, Exploration Committee Records: Applications to join the VEE received by the EC.

He travelled to Cooper Creek where he was one of the Depot party of four under Brahe. He bacame ill after a fall from a horse and started showing signs of scurvy. It was due to Patten's illness that Brahe decided to leave the Depot to return to Menindee.

Patten died on the 5th June 1861 a little south of the Rat Point Camp in New South Wales. His grave has never been located although a memorial has been erected on a nearby hill.

Where Patten went on the expedition