Daniel Scott (harbour-master)

Daniel Scott
Born	1800 Liverpool
Died	20 February 1865 Fremantle
Nationality	Australian

Daniel Scott (1800 – 20 February 1865) was a Western Australian harbour-master. Originally from Liverpool, England, he move to the newly established Swan River Colony in 1829. Scott was the first chair of the Fremantle Town Trust in 1848. In addition to his civic and harbour duties, he was involved with launching a number of enterprises in early Western Australia, including the first whaling business, the first ship builders (he built the first large ship from local timber), and a lead mining business.

Scott was born in Liverpool to Janet (née Campbell) the second wife of Daniel Scott, a flag maker. The son went away to sea and was mentioned by the Royal Humane Society after rescuing three men in a boat.

He built up experience on ships journeying to the Gold Coast and the West Indies, enabling him to gain employment as a deputy harbour-master in Fremantle in 1829. This was the same year that Captain Charles Fremantle arrived with the first settlers and James Stirling, the first Governor. Scott was given a grant of 4,000 acres on the Swan River by the British government instead of any pay or pension owing. Seven months after his arrival on the Calista Scott married Frances Harriet Davis.

Scott was employed at a hundred pounds a year but he set forth with acts of his own enterprise. Scott soon had a number of boats transporting goods from his own jetty. The activity seems to have been approved of as Captain Sir James Stirling RN, the Governor of Western Australia was one of his customers. This approval was outdone by general acclaim when Scott went into the shipbuilding business. In May 1836 Scott's first seagoing ship was launched at King George Sound. A gala was organised to celebrate the launching of the Lady Stirling which was the first large ship built from local timber. Lady Ellen Stirling was not available and the ship was launched by the wife of Lieutenant Roe.

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