Phillip Gidley King
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Captain Philip Gidley King RN |
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|---|---|
 |
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| 3rd Governor of New South Wales | |
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In office 28 September 1800 – August 1806 |
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| Preceded by | John Hunter |
| Succeeded by | William Bligh |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
23 April 1758 Launceston, Cornwall |
| Died | 3 September 1808 (aged 50) England |
| Resting place | St Nicholas churchyard, Lower Tooting, London |
| Spouse(s) | Anna Josepha Coombe |
| Military service | |
| Battles/wars | Australian Frontier Wars |
Captain Philip Gidley King RN (23 April 1758 – 3 September 1808) was the third Governor of New South Wales, and did much to civilise the young colony in the face of great obstacles.
When the First Fleet arrived in January 1788, King was detailed to colonise Norfolk Island for defence and foraging purposes. As Governor of New South Wales, he helped develop livestock farming, whaling and mining, built many schools and launched the colony's first newspaper. But conflicts with the military wore down his spirit, and they were able to force his resignation.
Philip Gidley King was born at Launceston England on 23 April 1758, the son of draper Philip King, and grandson of Exeter attorney-at-law John Gidley. He joined the Royal Navy at the age of 12 as captain's servant, and was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1778. King served under Arthur Phillip who chose him as second lieutenant on HMS Sirius for the expedition to establish a convict settlement in New South Wales. On arrival, in January 1788, King was selected to lead a small party of convicts and guards to set up a settlement at Norfolk Island, leaving Sydney on 14 February 1788 on board HMS Sirius.
On 6 March 1788, King and his party landed with difficulty, owing to the lack of a suitable harbour, and set about building huts, clearing the land, planting crops, and resisting the ravages of grubs, salt air and hurricanes. More convicts were sent, and these proved occasionally troublesome. Early in 1789 he prevented a mutiny when some of the convicts planned to take him and other officers prisoner, and escape on the next boat to arrive. Whilst commandant on Norfolk Island, King formed a relationship with the female convict Ann Inett – their first son, born on 8 January 1789, was named Norfolk. (He went on to become the first Australian-born officer in the Royal Navy and the captain of the schooner Ballahoo.) Another son was born in 1790 and named Sydney.
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