Phillip Parker King, the eldest son of Governor King, was born on Norfolk Island in 1791. He joined the British Navy and was the first Australian to become an admiral.

In 1817 King was given command of an expedition to complete the exploration of the north-western coast of Australia. Sailing in the cutter "Mermaid", by way of Bass Strait to North West Cape, he commenced his survey along the coast towards Arnhem Land.

During his four voyages off the northern and north-western coasts, King named Port Essington and Buccaneer's Archipelago (after Dampier), proved the insularity of Melville Island and charted the coastline. He also surveyed the west coast from Rottnest Island to Cygnet Bay (in King Sound) and the entrance to Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania.