Philip Gidley King facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philip Gidley King
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| 3rd Governor of New South Wales | |
| In office 28 September 1800 – August 1806 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Preceded by | John Hunter |
| Succeeded by | William Bligh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 April 1758 Launceston, Cornwall, England, Great Britain |
| Died | 3 September 1808 (aged 50) London, England, United Kingdom |
| Resting place | St Nicholas churchyard, Lower Tooting, London |
| Spouse | Anna Josepha Coombe |
| Children | 3 sons (incl. Phillip), 4 daughters |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Branch/service | Royal Navy |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | Australian Frontier Wars |
Captain Philip Gidley King (born April 23, 1758 – died September 3, 1808) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He became the third governor of New South Wales from 1800 to 1806. When the First Fleet arrived in Australia in 1788, King was chosen to start a new settlement on Norfolk Island. As Governor, he helped the colony grow by supporting farming, whaling, and mining. He also built schools and started the colony's first newspaper. Despite his hard work, he faced many challenges, especially with the military. King Street in Sydney is named after him.
Contents
Early Years and Norfolk Island Settlement
Philip Gidley King was born in Launceston, Cornwall, England, on April 23, 1758. His father was a draper. Philip joined the Royal Navy when he was just 12 years old. By 1778, he became a lieutenant. He served under Captain Arthur Phillip, who later chose him for an important expedition.
Starting the Norfolk Island Settlement
King was chosen as second lieutenant on HMS Sirius. This ship was part of the First Fleet, which sailed to establish a new settlement in New South Wales. When they arrived in January 1788, King was given a special task. He was to lead a small group of people to start a settlement on Norfolk Island. This island was important for defense and to grow food. King and his group left Sydney on February 14, 1788, aboard HMS Sirius.
On March 6, 1788, King and his party landed on Norfolk Island. It was difficult because there was no good harbor. They immediately began building shelters, clearing land, and planting crops. They faced challenges like pests, salty air, and strong storms. More people were sent to the island, and managing them was sometimes tricky. In 1789, King successfully stopped a plan by some people to take over a ship and escape.
During his time as commandant on Norfolk Island, King had two sons, Norfolk (born 1789) and Sydney (born 1790). These boys were later educated in England and became officers in the navy. Norfolk became the first Australian-born officer in the Royal Navy.
Returning to England and Back to Norfolk Island
In March 1790, the ship Sirius was wrecked at Norfolk Island. King then returned to England to report on the challenges faced by the new settlements. While in England, King married Anna Josepha Coombe on March 11, 1791. She was his first cousin. Soon after, he returned to Norfolk Island on HMS Gorgon. He took up his new role as Lieutenant-Governor of Norfolk Island. His first child with Anna, Phillip Parker King, was born there in December 1791. They later had four daughters.
When King returned, he found the people on Norfolk Island were unhappy. The previous leader, Major Robert Ross, had been very strict. King worked hard to improve conditions. He encouraged settlers, including former convicts and marines, and listened to their concerns about wages and prices. By 1794, the island was growing enough grain for itself. They even sent extra pigs to Sydney.
King faced ongoing disagreements with military officers from the New South Wales Corps. In February 1794, some officers made false accusations against him. They claimed he was too harsh on them and too lenient on former convicts. When their behavior became rebellious, he sent twenty of them to Sydney for trial. However, the Lieutenant-Governor in Sydney, Francis Grose, criticized King's actions. This led to more conflict between King and the military.
Governor of New South Wales
Becoming Governor
After dealing with health issues, King returned to England in October 1796. He recovered and continued his naval career. He was then chosen to replace Captain John Hunter as the third Governor of New South Wales. King officially became governor on September 28, 1800.
Challenges and Achievements as Governor
As governor, King immediately worked to improve how the colony was run. He appointed Major Joseph Foveaux as Lieutenant-Governor of Norfolk Island. One of his first big challenges was dealing with unauthorised trading practices by officers of the New South Wales Corps, especially involving alcohol. He tried to stop alcohol from being imported and started building a brewery. However, it was very hard to control this problem. He continued to face challenges and disobedience from the New South Wales Corps.
Despite these difficulties, King had many successes. He set rules for prices, wages, and working hours. This helped small farmers and reduced the number of people relying on government supplies. He encouraged the building of barracks, wharves, bridges, and houses. Government farms grew, and he supported trying to grow new crops like grapes, tobacco, and cotton. Whaling and sealing became important industries, providing oil and skins. Coal mining also began.
King was very interested in education. He set up schools to teach boys, including those from convict families, to become skilled tradesmen. He supported smallpox vaccinations and was friendly towards missionaries. He tried to maintain peace with the Aboriginal people. He also ordered the printing of Australia's first book, New South Wales General Standing Orders, and encouraged the first newspaper, the Sydney Gazette. During his time, explorers surveyed Bass Strait and Western Port, and discovered Port Phillip. New settlements were also started at Hobart and Port Dalrymple in Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania).
King understood that Sydney was a settlement for people sent from Britain. He was always aware of the challenges posed by some prisoners. He gave opportunities to emancipists, who were former convicts who had served their time and were now free. He believed they should have a chance to rebuild their lives. He appointed some emancipists to important roles. He also helped create the 'ticket of leave' system, which allowed deserving prisoners more freedom. For a time, he allowed Catholic services, letting Father James Dixon hold mass for Irish prisoners. While he was involved in some business dealings, he was generally fair compared to many others. Most famously, he put down a significant uprising known as the Castle Hill Rebellion in March 1804.
The ongoing disagreements between King and the New South Wales Corps eventually led to his resignation. He was replaced by William Bligh in 1806 and returned to England. His health declined, and he passed away on September 3, 1808.
Philip Gidley King worked very hard for the good of New South Wales. He left the colony in a much better state than he found it. Even though he faced many challenges and criticisms, his contributions to the early years of the colony were very important.
Artist
King's Artistic Contributions
Philip Gidley King is also remembered for his artwork. Several of his pieces still exist today. An engraving by William Blake, called A Native Family of New South Wales, was created from one of King's watercolors. This engraving was published in John Hunter's book, Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island (1793). The original sketch and several others by King are kept in the Mitchell Library in Sydney.
Recognition
Places Named After King
King Street is a well-known street in Sydney's central business district. It stretches from King Street Wharf on Darling Harbour in the west to Queens Square in the east. This street was named in honor of Governor Philip Gidley King.
For a long time, the upper part of King Street has been home to legal offices. This started when Governor Macquarie set up the Supreme Court near St James’ Church. King Street was also close to newspaper offices, pubs, clubs, and theaters.
The name King's Parrot was suggested by George Caley to honor Governor Philip Gidley King. This information comes from the book “Australian Bird Names: A Complete Guide” by Jeannie Gray & Ian Fraser.
See also
- Historical Records of Australia
- Journals of the First Fleet
