Born in St. John’s, Cormack was educated at the University of Edinburgh. In 1822, with Joseph Sylvester, a Micmac, he began, from this locality, a journey on foot across the unmapped interior of Newfoundland which he completed in 58 days. He published his data on the flora, fauna and geology of the interior of Newfoundland in the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal in 1824 and his complete account, Journey Across Newfoundland, in 1856. He founded the Beothuck Institute and, for a few months before her death, shared his home with Shanawdithit, the last known member of her tribe. He died in British Columbia. *Note: This designation has been identified for review. A review can be triggered for one of the following reasons - outdated language or terminology, absence of a significant layer of history, factual errors, controversial beliefs and behaviour, or significant new knowledge.