Captain Edward Primrose Tregurtha (1803-1880) was born in Cornwall, UK, and died in Launceston, Tasmania. He went to sea at an early age, and made voyages to the Far East and India. In 1831-33, as master of the whaler Caroline, he made an extensive whaling voyage out of Hobart. His itinerary included Sydney, the Bay of Islands, the Kermadecs, Rotuma, Wallis Island, the Gilberts, Solomon Islands, New Ireland, and the Coral Sea. After a visit to England, Tregurtha returned to Tasmania, whence he traded with neighbouring colonies as owner and master of the Henry. He made voyages to Adelaide in 1837 and took early settlers and sheep to Port Phillip. He later opened a business in Launceston as a general merchant and shipping agent.

The autobiography, which, in many places, appears to have been written up from journals kept at sea, gives a full account of Tregurtha's life from his birth in 1803 until the late 1830's. From then until the year 1852, it is brief and sporadic.