Damon Mcknight
The British government sent a fleet of 11 ships, known as the First Fleet, to colonize Australia in 1787. The fleet included six convict transport ships carrying almost 800 convicts, as well as seamen, officers, and free people. The convicts were transported for a variety of crimes, including petty theft, fraud, and violence. The conditions on the ships were appalling, with many convicts dying during the journey from illness and lack of supplies. The colony established in Australia was a penal colony, and it marked the beginning of British settlement and the European colonization of the continent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Convicts | The First Fleet, which arrived in Australia in 1788, primarily comprised convicts, largely from England and Wales. These were people convicted of crimes, often minor offenses, and transported as punishment. |
| Soldiers and Navy | The fleet also included a contingent of marines and their families, as well as naval personnel to oversee the convicts and establish the new colony. |
| Prostitutes and petty criminals | A significant number of women on the First Fleet were prostitutes or petty criminals. Many had been convicted of theft or prostitution-related offenses. |
| Age | The average age of the convicts was around 25 years, with the majority aged between 17 and 35 years old. |
| Education and Skills | Many convicts were illiterate and lacked formal education. However, some possessed valuable skills such as farming, craftsmanship, or trade expertise. |
| Social Class | The majority of convicts came from lower social classes, often living in poverty and facing limited opportunities in their homeland. |
| Repeat Offenders | A considerable portion of the convicts were repeat offenders, having been convicted and punished multiple times before their transportation. |
| Health | The health of the convicts varied, with some suffering from diseases or the after-effects of malnutrition or harsh living conditions. |
| Motivation | While some convicts were resigned to their fate, others saw transportation as an opportunity for a new start and a chance to improve their lives. |
| Family | Some convicts were married and had families, while others left behind parents, siblings, or children. Convict transportation often resulted in the breakdown of family units. |
| Legacy | The arrival of the First Fleet and subsequent convict shipments played a significant role in shaping Australia's history, culture, and demographic makeup. |
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What You'll Learn
Convicts, including men, women and minority groups
The First Fleet, which set sail from Portsmouth, England, on 13 May 1787, comprised 11 ships carrying around 1,000 convicts, including men, women, and minority groups, as well as seamen, officers, and free people. The exact number of convicts is uncertain, with estimates ranging from 736 to 1,420. The fleet was led by Commodore Arthur Phillip, who had the authority to grant land and create legislation in the new colony.
The First Fleet marked the beginning of the transportation of convicts to Australia, a practice that continued until 1868. During this period, hundreds of thousands of convicts were transported from Britain and Ireland to Australia. Many of these convicts were transported for what would be considered minor offences today, such as petty theft, fraud, and violence. The transportation sentence could range from 7 or 14 years for less serious offences to a life sentence for more serious crimes.
Among the convicts on the First Fleet were individuals from various walks of life. Approximately 44% were laborers, and 12% were unemployed. Around one in seven convicts transported to Australia were women, who often faced tougher challenges in the colonies. The women convicts on the First Fleet experienced lice infestations in their clothing, which had to be burned. They were issued new clothes made from rice sacks before arriving in Australia.
The journey to Australia was arduous and dangerous, lasting over 250 days and covering more than 24,000 kilometers. The convicts endured cramped and unhygienic conditions, with limited space and insufficient supplies. Many convicts did not survive the journey, falling victim to illnesses such as cholera. Upon arrival in Botany Bay on 21 January 1788, the fleet was met with relief at having reached their destination. Governor Phillip rejected this site and chose Port Jackson, which was later named Sydney Cove, as the location for the new colony.
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Political prisoners
On 13 May 1787, 11 ships left Portsmouth, England, for Australia, marking the beginning of the European colonisation of Australia. This fleet, known as the First Fleet, carried over 1,400 convicts, marines, sailors, colonial officials, and free settlers.
Among those convicts were political prisoners who had been convicted of no crime. Approximately 3,600 political prisoners were transported to the Australian colonies, often in waves that corresponded to political unrest in Britain and Ireland.
The political prisoners included:
- Irish home rule insurgents
- The unionist Tolpuddle Martyrs
- Anti-industrialising Luddites
- Canadian rebels
- Political reforming Chartists
Convicts were sent to Australia to work. Their sentences stipulated that they would work from sunrise to sunset, Monday to Saturday. While this was their punishment, the colonial administration also viewed it as an opportunity for redemption, as Governor Phillip believed that ‘honest sweat’ was the convict’s best chance of improvement.
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Free settlers
The First Fleet of 11 ships, which set sail from Portsmouth, England, on 13 May 1787, carried about 1,530 people, including over 1,000 convicts, marines, sailors, colonial officials, and free settlers. These free settlers were people who chose to leave their homes in Britain and start a new life in the colony. They were mostly soldiers and their families, farmers, and people with trades such as carpentry or blacksmithing.
Life was challenging for the early settlers in Australia. The colonists of New South Wales struggled to find fertile land, and the hot, dry climate made farming difficult. Starvation was a constant concern during the colony's first few years, and all settlers had to contribute to keep the colony from failing. The British government wanted to make the colony stable and self-sufficient, so they provided assistance to free settlers, including transportation costs, free land, agricultural tools, and convict labour.
The number of free settlers grew steadily from 1816, and by 1825, free settlements were established in the Swan River Colony in Western Australia, the Province of South Australia, and the Port Philip District. By 1830, free settlers and the locally born exceeded the convict population in New South Wales.
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Sailors and seamen
The sailors and seamen played a crucial role in navigating the ships across vast distances and ensuring the safety of those on board. They possessed maritime skills and knowledge of the seas, which were essential for the long and arduous journey ahead. The fleet first sailed south towards South America before turning eastwards at Cape Town and venturing into the Great Southern Ocean to reach their destination.
The exact number of sailors and seamen on the First Fleet is not known with absolute certainty. Estimates suggest that there were over 1,400 people associated with the fleet, including convicts, marines, sailors, seamen, colonial officials, and free settlers. It is believed that approximately 1,373 people landed at Sydney Cove in January 1788.
The sailors and seamen faced various challenges and played a vital role in the success of the voyage. A notable incident occurred even before the fleet's departure, when sailors on the Fishburn ship disputed their pay and refused to leave Portsmouth until the matter was resolved. This delayed the fleet's departure, highlighting the agency and influence of sailors and seamen in the events surrounding the First Fleet.
The First Fleet's journey was not without its difficulties. The ships encountered various challenges, including cramped conditions, hygiene issues, and the need to maintain adequate supplies for the long voyage. The sailors and seamen would have been instrumental in managing these challenges, ensuring the fleet's progress, and contributing to the overall success of the mission.
The arrival of the First Fleet in Australia marked a significant moment in history, as it established the first European settlement and penal colony on the continent. The sailors and seamen who were part of this voyage played an indispensable role in the founding of what would become the first British settlement in Australia and the subsequent development of the country.
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Colonial officials
The First Fleet, which left Portsmouth, England, on 13 May 1787, consisted of 11 ships that transported a group of settlers to mainland Australia. This marked the beginning of the European colonisation of Australia. The fleet included two Royal Navy vessels, three storeships, six convict transports, and over 1,400 convicts, marines, sailors, colonial officials, and free settlers.
The colonial officials included military officers and other officials who were responsible for maintaining civil order and suppressing any convict uprisings or resistance from the Aboriginal population. They also played a role in exploring the continent and establishing new settlements. For instance, Governor Phillip Gidley King established a settlement in Van Diemen's Land (modern-day Tasmania) in 1803.
The colonial military forces were maintained with the help of free male settlers, who practised musketry, and later, with the recruitment of ex-convicts, forming the first full-time military unit in Australia. The troops' main role was to guard against external attacks and maintain civil order, particularly against the threat of convict rebellions.
In summary, colonial officials played a crucial role in the early years of the Australian colonies, with powers to govern, maintain order, explore, and establish new settlements. They navigated complex relationships with the Aboriginal people, convicts, and each other, shaping the course of Australia's colonial history.
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Frequently asked questions
The people shipped to Australia in 1787 were convicts, marines, sailors, colonial officials, and free settlers. The First Fleet, which set off from Portsmouth, England, on 13 May 1787, consisted of 11 ships carrying around 1,000 convicts and 400+ crew members and free people. Many of the convicts were transported for what we would consider minor offences today, such as petty theft, fraud, and violence.
The conditions on the ships were appalling, with many convicts dying during the journey from illnesses such as cholera due to cramped and unhygienic conditions. The women convicts' clothing became infested with lice and had to be burned. Food shortages and a lack of supplies led to widespread hunger and starvation.
The First Fleet arrived at Botany Bay, Sydney, in January 1788. Governor Arthur Phillip rejected Botany Bay and instead chose Port Jackson, which was later named Sydney Cove, as the site for the new colony. The colony was established as New South Wales, a penal colony and the first British settlement in Australia.
