This episode looks at William Bligh’s background and his reputation as a Naval Captain. He had some very difficult tasks ahead of him as Governor of the troubled NSW colony, and we need to consider if he had the requisite personality and abilities to introduce the reforms required.
The English were already aware there was a lot of resistance to the changes required, mainly from the members, ex-members and cronies of the NSW Corp, and Bligh was likely chosen for his tenacity. So we look at how he was initially received by the influential people in the colony, by the struggling settlers and farmers, and how he began his Governorship in NSW.
(59 mins)
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Podcast Recommendation:
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REFERENCES for Part 2
MACKANESS, George. 1951. The life of Vice-Admiral William Bligh, R. N., F. R. S. [New and rev. ed.]. Sydney, Angus and Robertson.
BRUNTON, PAUL, 2008. Bligh’s Sydney rebellion [online]. Mitchell Library. Available from: https://www2.sl.nsw.gov.au›docs›bligh_guide
BURROUGHS, Walter, 2012. Captain William Bligh and his daughter. Journal of Australian Naval History. Vol 9. No 1. March 2012.
EVATT, Herbert. 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. ISBN 978-0-85550-037-5.
DAVIS, Russell. 2010. Bligh in Australia. 1st ed. Warriewood, N.S.W.: Woodslane. ISBN 978-1-921683-50-3.
TERRY, MARTIN. A Soldier’s wife. Trove [online]. [Accessed September 2021]. Available from: pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/131760/20120120-0944/www.nla.gov.au/pub/nlanews/2008/jan08/story-2.pdf
MUNDLE, ROB. 2017. Bligh: master mariner. Sydney, NSW: Hachette Australia. ISBN 978-0-7336-2846-7.
Elizabeth (Betham) Bligh (1751-1812) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree. [online] [Accessed August 2021]. Available from: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Betham-7
FRIENDS OF THE FIRST GOVERNMENT HOUSE SITE INC. Her Father’s Daughter. [online]. [Accessed September 2021]. Available from: http://www.ffghs.org.au/page14.php
STEVEN, Margaret, 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
1806, 1916. Historical Records of Australia: Series 1 Governors despatches to and from England [online]. Sydney: Library Committee of the Commonwealth Parliament. Available from: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-467098471
1809, 1916. Historical Records of Australia: Series 1 Governors despatches to and from England [online]. Sydney: Library Committee of the Commonwealth Parliament. Available from: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-469139834
WIKIPEDIA: BLIGH, 2021. William Bligh. [Accessed July 2021]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Bligh&oldid=1030752834
WIKIPEDIA: TURNBULL, 2021. Malcolm Turnbull. [Accessed September 2021]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Malcolm_Turnbull&oldid=1035686841
WIKIPEDIA: MACARTHUR, 2021. John Macarthur (wool pioneer). [Accessed July 2021]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Macarthur_(wool_pioneer)&oldid=1034747679
WIKIPEDIA: MARY PUTLAND, 2021. Mary Putland. [Accessed September 2021]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary_Putland&oldid=1042874690
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