Francis Thomas Gregory (19 October 1821 – 24 October 1888) was an English-born Australian explorer and politician. Gregory was born at Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, England, and was the younger brother of the explorer Augustus Gregory. Francis Gregory was brought to Western Australia in 1829, entered the public service as a cadet in 1841, became an assistant in 1847 and a staff surveyor in 1849. With his two brothers Gregory explored the country north of Perth in 1846. In 1857 he explored the Upper Murchison River, and in 1858 examined the country farther to the east and north. In 1860 he visited London and was put in charge of an expedition to explore the north-west coast of Australia, the British government making a grant of £2000 towards the expenses. Gregory left Fremantle on 23 April 1861 and four days later, at Champion Bay, he was joined by three volunteers, making a party of nine. They completed the landing of the horses near the site of Roebourne on 24 May, and started for the interior on the following day. The Fortescue River was followed for several days and a turn to the south-west was then made and the Hardey River was followed. On 25 June, having reached latitude 23 degrees 56 min., they began to retrace their steps and reached their landing place on the coast on 19 July. On 29 July another journey to the east was begun but to the north of the previous track. Gregory returned with his party on 17 October having discovered some excellent country. A return was made by sea to Perth which was reached on 9 November 1861. Gregory estimated that there were 2 or 3 million acres (8,000 or 12,000 km²) of land in the district examined suitable for grazing, and he also drew attention to the possibilities of the pearl oyster industry. In 1862 Gregory went to Queensland and was for some years commissioner of crown lands and a member of the Queensland Legislative Council from 1874, and for a short period in 1883 was postmaster-general. He died at Toowoomba, Queensland on 24 October 1888. He was given the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society in 1863.