John McDouall Stuart (7 September 1815 – 5 June 1866) is one of the most accomplished and famous of all Australia's inland explorers.

Stuart leads the first successful expedition to traverse the Australian mainland from south to north and return, and the first to do so from a starting point in South Australia, achieving this despite poor backing from the Government of South Australia.

His experience and the care he shows for his team ensures he never loses a man, despite the harshness of the country he encounters.

The explorations of Stuart eventually result in the Australian Overland Telegraph Line being built and the main route from Port Augusta to Darwin being established, which is now known as the Stuart Highway in his honor.