Jack Donahue facts for kids

Jack Donahue (born around 1806 – died September 1, 1830) was an Irish-born bushranger in Australia. He was also known as Bold Jack Donahue. From 1825 to 1830, he was part of a famous group called the "Wild Colonial Boys."

Early Life and Arrival in Australia

Jack Donahue was born in Dublin, Ireland, around 1806. He was an orphan. He started out by pickpocketing. Later, he was involved in a burglary. In 1823, he was found guilty of trying to commit a crime.

In September 1824, he was held on a prison ship called HMS Surprise in Cork. Then, he was moved to another ship, the Ann and Amelia. He traveled with 200 other prisoners to Australia. He arrived in Sydney in January 1825. When he saw his prison cell, Donahue reportedly said, "A home for life." Early in his time in prison, he was punished twice with fifty lashes.

Becoming a Bushranger

Jack Donahue escaped from a farm at Quakers Hill. He ran away with two other men, George Kilroy and William Smith. Together, they formed a group of outlaws. They would rob rich landowners, taking their clothes, money, and food. Sometimes, servants on the farms would help them. They gave Donahue's group information about their bosses. They even gave them food and places to hide.

On December 14, 1827, Donahue and his group were caught. They were arrested for robbing people on the road from Sydney to Windsor. On March 1, 1828, a judge in Sydney sentenced them all to death. But Donahue managed to escape while being moved from the court to the jail.

The Wild Colonial Boys

After escaping, Donahue joined other criminals. They robbed farms that were far away, near Bathurst. To stop the crimes, the government sent more police and Aboriginal trackers. It didn't take long for the police to find the outlaws. A shootout happened, but Donahue got away.

Donahue went back to areas he knew well, near Windsor. There, he joined other criminals to continue his life of crime. He became one of the "Wild Colonial Boys." This was a group of about twelve to fifteen men. Donahue was very clever and soon became as important as the leaders, Underwood and MacNamara. These leaders were known for being smart, brave, and desperate. The gang would work in small groups of three or four. They would stop settlers and steal property from many areas, from Bathurst to Yass and from the Hunter region to the Illawarra.

In 1829, posters were put up offering a £20 reward for Donahue's capture. The posters described him as "22 years of age, [5 ft 4 in] in height, brown freckled complexion, flaxen hair, blue eyes, and has a scar under the left nostril." One year later, the reward was increased to £200.

The gang would wait for travelers on the main roads. Or, if they knew settlers were away, they would attack and rob their homes. They even robbed a toll house, taking everything valuable. Donahue was smart. He only robbed the wealthy. This made him popular with poorer settlers. These settlers often gave the police false information about him. When the police were searching hard for him, the settlers would hide him in their homes.

A new law was passed. It allowed police to search the homes of settlers they suspected of helping Donahue. To make things even more serious, a public announcement was made. It promised a reward, a full pardon, and a trip to England for any convict who helped catch Donahue, MacNamara, or Underwood. Free people who helped would get land.

Death of Jack Donahue

In the late afternoon of September 1, 1830, Jack Donahue was shot and killed. This happened during a shootout between his group and soldiers. The event took place in Bringelly, New South Wales. The local newspaper, Sydney Gazette, reported that "all respectable citizens" were happy about Donahue's death.

Jack Donahue in Popular Culture

In 1833, a play called The Tragedy of Donohoe was written about Donahue's life by Charles Harpur. It was later published in 1853 as The Bushrangers.

Donahue also became famous in a folk song called The Wild Colonial Boy. The authorities tried to ban the song, but they failed. Instead, it became a song of rebellion. Generations of Australians continued to sing it, and it became a part of Australia's stories and traditions. Over time, the song's lyrics changed Donahue's name to Jack Doolan, Jack Dowling, Jack Doogan, and even Jim Doolan. A line from the song that many people remembered was, "'I'll fight but not surrender 'til I die,' cried the Wild Colonial Boy."

Another Australian folk song, “Jim Jones at Botany Bay”, also mentions Donahue.

See also

• List of convicts transported to Australia