Name

Trim, the seafaring cat

Connection

Trim was Matthew Flinders’ cat, born at sea in 1799 on route to Botany Bay. Trim joined Flinders on board HMS Investigator for his circumnavigation of Australia in 1802. Thus, being the first cat to do so.

Location

Trim’s statue is to be found beside that of his master Matthew Flinders, himself posing astride a map of Australia. The statue of the pair is in the forecourt right outside Euston station.

How to get there

Euston station is on a number of underground lines as well as a major Overground/British Rail hub.

Story

Trim was a predominantly black cat with white feet and  a white star on his chest. Trim was born at sea in 1799 and joined Flinders on many of his exploratory expeditions. The most famous being the first circumnavigation of the southern continent in 1802, during which Flinders mapped the country and encouraged others to name the continent Australia. Trim was with Flinders during his imprisonment on the Isle de France and during this time met his demise, aged five years old.

Trim – sketch by Annette Macarthur-Onslow

Flinders played a significant part in the exploration of Australia but is often not given credit for this. On his return to England in 1810 he devoted his time to writing his journal of his travels to Australia and completed this just before he died in 1814, aged only 40.

Trim’s travelling life is celebrated in an essay written by Flinders himself, completed during his time in captivity on the Isle de France. Flinders’ tribute to Trim is reproduced in full here:

‘To the memory of Trim, the best and most illustrious of his Race, the most affectionate of friends, faithful of servants, and best of creatures, He made the Tour of the Globe, and a voyage to Australia, which he circumnavigated; and was ever the delight and pleasure of his fellow voyagers, Returning to Europe in 1803, he was shipwrecked in the Great Equinoxial Ocean; This danger escaped, he sought refuge and assistance at the Isle of France, where he was made prisoner, contrary to the laws of Justice, of Humanity, and of French National Faith; and where, alas! He terminated his useful career, by an untimely death, being devoured by the Catophagi of that island. Many a time I have beheld his little merriments with delight, and his superior intelligence with surprise: Never will his like be seen again! Trim was born in the Southern Indian Ocean, in the year 1799, and perished as above at the Isle of France in 1804. Peace be to his shade, and Honour to his memory’ Matthew Flinders 1809.

Flinders died in 1814 after a long illness. He was buried in the graveyard of St James Church Hampstead Road, a burial ground for St James Piccadilly. His daughter visited his grave many years later and found the site greatly altered. The tombstones had been removed, as had the graves and their contents. It was thought that his whereabouts would be forever unknown. It was rumoured that his remains lay under Euston Station. Imagine the delight when in January 2019 his coffin was discovered during renovation of the station. Trim would be delighted that his master had been found.

Trim next to Flinders outside Euston station

Further information

Trim – here

Matthew Flinders – here