The First Fleet

SHIPS OF THE FIRST FLEET TO AUSTRALIA

The eleven ships of the English First Fleet to Australia were:

 

Sirius [Flagship of First Fleet]

·        Commodore – Captain Arthur Phillip

·        Captain – John Hunter

·        Surgeon – George Bouchier Worgan

·        1^st Lieutenant – Lieutenant William Bradley

·        2^nd. Lieutenant – Lieutenant Philip Gidley King

·        3^rd. Lieutenant – Lieutenant George William Maxwell

 

Supply [Armed Tender]

·        Commander – Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball

·        Surgeon – James Callam

 

Alexander [Convict Transport]

·        Captain – Duncan Sinclair

·        Surgeon – William Balmain

·        Marine – Lieutenant John Johnston

·        Marine – Lieutenant James Maitland-Shairp

·        210 male convicts

 

Scarborough [Convict Transport]

·        Captain – John Marshall

·        Surgeon - Dennis Considen

·        Marine – Captain John Shea

·        Marine – Lieutenant Robert Kellow

·        Marine – Lieutenant William Dawes

·        210 male convicts

 

Charlotte [Convict Transport]

·        Captain – Thomas Gilbert

·        Surgeon- John White

·        Marine – Captain Watkin Tench

·        Marine – Lieutenant John Creswell

·        Marine – Lieutenant John Poulden

·        78 male and 20 female convicts

 

Lady Penrhyn [Convict Transport]

·        Master - Captain William Sever

·        Surgeon - Arthur Bowes

·        Surgeon – T. Turnpenny Alltree

·        Marine – Captain James Campbell

·        Marine – Lieutenant George Johnston

·        Marine – Lieutenant William Collins

·        Passenger – Lieutenant Watts (Royal Navy)

·        Passenger – James Smith

·        Passenger – John Ross

·        104 female convicts and 8 children

 

Friendship [Convict Transport]

·        Master - Captain Francis Walton

·        Surgeon – Thomas Arundel

·        Marine – Captain James Meredith

·        Marine – Lieutenant Ralph Clark

·        Marine – Lieutenant William Faddy

·        100 male and female convicts

 

Prince of Wales [Convict Transport]

·        Master - Captain John Mason

·        Marine – Lieutenant Thomas Davey

·        Marine – Lieutenant Thomas Timmins

·        50 female convicts

 

Borrowdale [Storeship]

·        Master - Captain Readthon Hobson

 

Golden Grove [Storeship]

·        Master – Captain Sharp

·        Passengers – Reverend Richard Johnson and his wife

 

Fishburn [Storeship]

·        Master - Captain Robert Brown

 

The Supply was the first ship to reach Botany Bay on 18/1/1788 and anchored on the northern side of the Bay, followed by the Alexander, Scarborough and Friendship, which arrived the next morning. The remainder of the First Fleet arrived on the 20/1/1788.

 

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN FIRST FLEET

The First Fleet carried approximately 1350 men, women and children to Australia. The actual number cannot be determined from the available records.

Links

The Ships of the First Fleet
The Ships of the First Fleet, 1788
Australian History: The First Fleet
Powerhouse Museum: Ship Model, HMS Sirius, 1937 - 1938

 

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Kevin McGuinness

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