The First Fleet: The Real Story“Alan Frost is the myth-buster of Australian history...His work should be studied not only by students but anyone interested in the birth of a nation.” — the Age In 1787 a convoy of eleven ships, carrying about 1400 people, set out from England for Botany Bay. According to the conventional account, it was a shambolic affair: under-prepared, poorly equipped and ill-disciplined. Robert Hughes condemned the organisers’ “muddle and lack of foresight”, while Manning Clark described scenes of “indescribable misery and confusion”. In The First Fleet: The Real Story, Alan Frost draws on previously forgotten records to debunk these persistent myths. He shows that the voyage was in fact meticulously planned – reflecting its importance to the British government’s secret ambitions for imperial expansion. He examines the ships and supplies, passengers and behind-the-scenes discussions. In the process, he reveals the hopes and schemes of those who planned the voyage, and the experiences of those who made it. ‘It is almost certain that Frost knows more than anybody else about the early maritime history of this land ... This book will surely alter the way Sydney sees its history.’ — Geoffrey Blainey, The Weekend Australian |
From inside the book
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Page vii
The Real Story Alan Frost. Contents. Preface Introduction 1 Part One: Planning a Convict Colony 1 ... Marines, Convicts, Wives and Children 5. The Ships 6. Equipping the Colonists 7. Loading the Ships and Embarking the ...
The Real Story Alan Frost. Contents. Preface Introduction 1 Part One: Planning a Convict Colony 1 ... Marines, Convicts, Wives and Children 5. The Ships 6. Equipping the Colonists 7. Loading the Ships and Embarking the ...
Page xi
... marines and convicts who began the British colonization of New South Wales in 1788. It is based on some 2000 documents that I have collected over the past thirty-five years, and that Dr Natasha Campo and I have transcribed and edited. I ...
... marines and convicts who began the British colonization of New South Wales in 1788. It is based on some 2000 documents that I have collected over the past thirty-five years, and that Dr Natasha Campo and I have transcribed and edited. I ...
Page xii
... as Treasury and Admiralty, but retain the full titles for the Navy Board and Board of Trade. Introduction The First Fleet carrying the Botany Baycolony's officials,marines, convicts, xii The First Fleet: The Real Story.
... as Treasury and Admiralty, but retain the full titles for the Navy Board and Board of Trade. Introduction The First Fleet carrying the Botany Baycolony's officials,marines, convicts, xii The First Fleet: The Real Story.
Page 1
... marines, convicts, animals, plants and supplies set out from Portsmouth harbour in the early morning of Sunday, 13 May 1787. Comprising eleven ships – two Royal Navy ships, six convict transports and three storeships – it wasn't really ...
... marines, convicts, animals, plants and supplies set out from Portsmouth harbour in the early morning of Sunday, 13 May 1787. Comprising eleven ships – two Royal Navy ships, six convict transports and three storeships – it wasn't really ...
Page 3
... marines or soldiers going out on a foreign service under government were ever better, if so well provided for as these convicts are'. The marine officer Watkin Tench recorded that 'the provisions served on board were good, and of a much ...
... marines or soldiers going out on a foreign service under government were ever better, if so well provided for as these convicts are'. The marine officer Watkin Tench recorded that 'the provisions served on board were good, and of a much ...
Contents
17 | |
27 | |
Officials and Officers | 49 |
Ships Crews Marines Convicts | 64 |
The Ships | 81 |
Equipping the Colonists | 95 |
Loading the Ships and Embarking the People | 114 |
AtPortsmouth | 129 |
Preparing Bodiesfor the Voyage | 140 |
Leaving the World | 159 |
No CheaperMode? | 181 |
Conclusion | 198 |
Acknowledgments | 217 |
Select Bibliography | 250 |
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Common terms and phrases
24 October 28 February administration’s Admiralty advised Alexander appointed April arrival Arthur Phillip asked August Botany Bay Campbell Cape Chronicle clothing Collins colonists colony’s command commission cost court crew December Deptford Officers embarked England establishment Evan Nepean expedition expense February female convicts Fleet fresh foods governor Home Office HRNSW Hunter Island January Lady Penrhyn land Lieutenant London March marine officers marines and convicts Memorandum Middleton to Nepean Minute naval Navy Board necessary needed Nepean to Middleton November Ocean Officers to Navy ofthe Phillip to Nepean Phillip to Sydney Pitt administration Plymouth port Portsmouth Privy Council provisions Real Story Record group Rio de Janeiro Ross Royal Navy sailed Scarborough scurvy sent September 1786 settlement ship’s ships Shortland sick Sirius Sirius and Supply SLNSW South Wales Steele surgeon Teer to Navy Tench Tenerife told Treasury USNA Victualling voyage wine women wrote