 The islands were named Kent's Group by Matthew Flinders, "in honour of my friend captain William Kent, then commander of "Supply"" when Flinders passed them on 8 February 1798 in "Francis" (on her way to salvage "Sydney Cove").The largest island in the group is Deal Island; the others, in order of descending size, are Erith Island, Dover Island, North East Isle, South West Isle and Judgement Rocks.Seal hunting took place on the islands from at least 1803.