55 – Bligh & the Rum Rebellion: Part 4: Final

This episode is the final in the Bligh-Rum Rebellion series, and we take a closer look at how the day developed, how the arrest of Bligh unfolded at Government House, and what followed on from the revolt by the New South Wales ‘Rum’ Corp.

The British Government was slow to act, but inquiries were made, and the protagonists were expected to stand trial for mutiny, so we take a look at how that all proceeded too.

(75 mins)



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Propaganda cartoon of Bligh’s arrest in Sydney in 1808, portraying him as a coward. State Library of New South Wales, Sydney.
1983 Rum Rebellion Commemorative Stamp (AustraliaPost)
2019 Rum Rebellion Coin
Lady O’Connell (Putland nee Bligh) c1847 NLA
Elizabeth Macarthur 1845, aged 79, [William Nicholas, 1845]. [Camden Park Collection.]
Annadale House – Johnston – SLNSW
Macarthur petition [GutenbergPress]
Plan of Sydney Oct 1807 (ProjectGutenbergAustralia)
The Tavern [Raymond Lindsay 1930]

Podcast Recommendation:          Talking Tudors Podcast

https://onthetudortrail.com/Blog/talking-tudors-podcast/


REFERENCES for Part 4

DAVIS, R. E. 2010. Bligh in Australia. 1st ed. Warriewood, N.S.W.: Woodslane. ISBN 978-1-921683-50-3.

EVATT, H.V. 1971. Rum rebellion: a study of the overthrow of Governor Bligh by John Macarthur and the New South Wales Corps. Hawthorn, Vic.: Lloyd O’Neil. Australian classics. ISBN 978-0-85550-037-5.

HAWKEY, ARTHUR, 1975. Bligh’s other mutiny. London: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0207956394.

POBJIE, B., 2017. Error Australis. Affirm Press. ISBN 978-1-925344-46-2.

HUNT, David, 2013. Girt. Volume 1, From megafauna to Macquarie : the unauthorised history of Australia. Collingwood, Vic.: Black Inc. ISBN 978-1-86395-611-6.

BRUNTON, PAUL, 2008. Bligh’s Sydney rebellion [online]. 2008. Mitchell Library. Available from: https://www2.sl.nsw.gov.au › docs › bligh_guide

MACKANESS, George, 1951. The life of Vice-Admiral William Bligh, R. N., F. R. S. [New and rev. ed.]. Sydney, Angus and Robertson.

OVERTON, NED. Mutiny; and the Trial of Lt. Col. Johnston:  AN OUTLINE OF THE RUM REBELLION. [online]. [Accessed December 2021]. Available from: https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks13/1300731h.html

DAWE. Wool. [online]. [Accessed December 2021]. Available from: https://www.awe.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/meat-wool-dairy/wool

DFAT. Trade Through Time. [online]. [Accessed 3 December 2021]. Available from: https://www.dfat.gov.au/publications/minisite/tradethroughtimegovau/site/index.html

NSFA.   Riding on the Sheep’s Back  https://dl.nfsa.gov.au/module/1592/

BENNETT, J. M., 1966. Atkins, Richard (1745–1820). In: Australian Dictionary of Biography [online]. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. [Accessed August 2021]. Available from: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/atkins-richard-1723

STATE LIBRARY OF NSW, 2015. The overthrow and aftermath | From Terra Australis to Australia. State Library of NSW [online]. 21 December 2015. [Accessed October 2021]. Available from: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/terra-australis-australia/overthrow-and-aftermath

STATE LIBRARY OF NSW, 2018. Arrest of Governor Bligh January 26, 1808. Copy of the original manuscript documents, ca. 1890’s / New South Wales Government Printer. State Library of NSW [online]. 21 February 2018. [Accessed October 2021]. Available from: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/collection-items/arrest-governor-bligh-january-26-1808-copy-original-manuscript-documents-ca-1890s

The arrest of Governor Bligh, [no date]. Curio [online]. [Accessed October 2021]. Available from: https://curio.artpro.net.au/exhibit/1329/

WIKIPEDIA: First Government House, Sydney. Wikipedia [online]. [Accessed November 2021]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=First_Government_House,_Sydney&oldid=1003667119

YARWOOD, A. T., 1967. Johnston, George (1764–1823). In: Australian Dictionary of Biography [online]. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. [Accessed July 2021]. Available from: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/johnston-george-2277


Music & other links:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/dec/03/risky-levels-australia-is-the-drunkest-country-in-the-world-new-survey-finds

The Big Merino: https://www.bigmerino.com.au/history-of-wool/