James Mario Matra (1746 - 1806)

James Mario Matra

James Mario Matra, born James Magra, was an American of Corsican descent, diplomat and sailor.

Matra became famous for accompanying James Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific and for painting the voyage, although his participation in it was accompanied by scandal. In 1783 he proposed settlements in New South Wales, Australia, for American Loyalists and British convicts. But Matra's hopes for an official position in the proposed colony failed, and in 1786 he accepted the post of consul in Tangier, where he remained until his death.