William Bligh, the very same Captain probably best known for the mutiny on the Bounty, was to be recruited in his later life, as the Governor of the Colony of New South Wales. But it seems his days of attracting mutinous behaviour were not over. Bligh would find himself again at the mercy of military men who felt they could do a better job.
So we’ll talk in this series, about the New South Wales Corp – otherwise known as the Rum Corp, the Governors managing them, and the episode that we sometimes call the Rum Rebellion.
This episode – Part 1 – we’ll begin by considering the state of NSW during these years, and the lead up to Bligh’s arrival to take up the Governor’s post.
(55 mins)
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Podcast Recommendation:
Convict Australia podcast https://anchor.fm/jennifer-twemlow
REFERENCES for part 1:
Historical Records of Australia: Series 1 Governors despatches to and from England VI Aug 1806-Dec 1808 [online]. Sydney: Library Committee of the Commonwealth Parliament. Available from: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-467098471 [Accessed July 2021]
Historical Records of Australia: Series 1 Governors despatches to and from England VII Jan 1809-June 1813 [online]. Sydney: Library Committee of the Commonwealth Parliament. Available from: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-469139834 [Accessed July 2021]
AUCHMUTY, J. 1966. Hunter, John (1737–1821). 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/hunter-john-2213
SHAW, A. 1967. King, Philip Gidley (1758–1808). 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/king-philip-gidley-2309
MACKANESS, G. 1951. The life of Vice-Admiral William Bligh, R. N., F. R. S. [New and rev. ed.]. Sydney, Angus and Robertson.
DAVIS, R. 2010. Bligh in Australia. 1st ed. Warriewood, N.S.W.: Woodslane. ISBN 978-1-921683-50-3.
STEVEN, M. 1967. Macarthur, John (1767–1834). 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/macarthur-john-2390
CAMDEN PARK HOUSE. [online]. [Accessed 2021]. Available from: https://www.camdenparkhouse.com.au/overview
SYDNEY LIVING MUSEUMS, 2013. A turbulent past. Sydney Living Museums [online]. [Accessed 25 July 2021]. Available from: https://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/stories/turbulent-past
YARWOOD, A. T., 1967. Johnston, George (1764–1823). In: Australian Dictionary of Biography [online]. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. [Accessed 25 July 2021]. Available from: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/johnston-george-2277
BRUNTON, PAUL. Bligh’s Sydney rebellion [online]. Mitchell Library. Available from: https://www2.sl.nsw.gov.au › docs › bligh_guide
BESSANT, B, BLACKMORE, W, CAVEN, P, COTTER, R, and WATERSON, D, 1978. Australian History: the occupation of a continent. Blackburn: Eureka Publishing.
MUNDLE, R. 2017. Bligh: master mariner. Sydney, NSW: Hachette Australia. ISBN 978-0-7336-2846-7.
Governor of New South Wales. Wikipedia [online]. [Accessed 30 June 2021]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Governor_of_New_South_Wales&oldid=1028506604
William Bligh. Wikipedia [online]. [Accessed 6 July 2021]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Bligh&oldid=1030752834
Music & other links:
- Intro/Exit music modified from: ‘Grand Canyon’ by LÃHSTANA DAVID [CCFM Music]
- Snippet from The British Grenadiers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULnMJGVo-7g