Robert Espie facts for kids

Robert Espie (born 1791, died 1870) was an Irish doctor who worked on convict ships. He was a surgeon-superintendent, meaning he was in charge of the health and well-being of the people on board. He worked for the Royal Navy and became a surgeon in 1811.

Robert Espie served on eight different convict ships that sailed to Australia in the early 1800s. It's amazing to know that only eight patients died under his care across all these long journeys. Many of his medical journals, which were like diaries of his work, have been lost. However, the ones that still exist give us a peek into his life and experiences as a ship's doctor. He passed away on October 2, 1870, when he was 79 years old.

Robert Espie's Early Life

Robert Espie was born in Derry, Ireland, in 1791. He grew up with five brothers and sisters. One of his brothers, George Espie, even traveled with him on some of the convict ships to Australia. George later bought land in a place called Van Diemen's Land (which is now Tasmania, Australia).

Robert Espie got married to Janet Jerman Simons on January 17, 1828. They had three children together. In 1851, Robert and Janet lived in a house called Hanstead House in Lewisham, U.K. Janet passed away in 1854 when she was 60 years old.

Robert Espie was listed as a medical officer in The Navy List, which is a record of people working for the Navy. He was appointed as a temporary surgeon in Port Dalrymple in October 1820. However, he left this job a year later because he wasn't feeling well.

Journeys on Convict Ships

Throughout his career, Robert Espie worked as a surgeon-superintendent on eight different convict ships heading to Australia. These ships included the Morley (in 1817), Shipley (1818), Dorothy (1820), Lord Sidmouth (1822), Lady Rowena (1825), Mary (1830), Roslin Castle (1834), and the Elizabeth (1836).

The Morley Voyage (1817)

His first job was on the ship called the Morley in 1817. This was one of four trips the Morley made to bring convicts to New South Wales, Australia. The ship left England on December 18, 1817, and arrived in Port Jackson (Sydney) on April 10, 1817. None of Espie's medical journals from this trip survived. However, it's known that no one died during this voyage. After this journey, he sailed back to England on the Morley.

The Shipley Voyage (1818–1819)

Espie's second journey was a year later on the Shipley in 1818. This was another trip bringing convicts to New South Wales. Espie kept a medical journal for this voyage, from June 23 to December 21, 1818. He was in charge of 150 male convicts from England. Sadly, three convicts died during this trip. In his journal, Espie wrote that their deaths were not due to the ship being "sickly" or unclean. He believed their deaths were "purely the effect of incidental disease attacking men already much advanced in years and greatly emaciated by mental anxiety and confinement." He returned to England in 1819.

The Dorothy Voyage (1820)

His next journey was on the Dorothy in 1820. His brother, George Espie, joined him on this trip. Robert kept a journal from March 1 to September 29, 1820. He noted that he first received 30 male convicts who were well-behaved. Then he received 102 more, and finally 59 more, making a total of 191 convicts.

Espie observed that most of the prisoners were young men under 35 and seemed healthy. He also found the ship to be clean and comfortable. After a few days, he started taking off the leg irons of the convicts who were behaving well.

The Lord Sidmouth Voyage (1822–1823)

His fourth voyage was on the Lord Sidmouth with 97 female convicts from England. He kept a medical journal from August 22, 1822, to March 1, 1823.

The Lady Rowena Voyage (1825)

His fifth journey was on the Lady Rowena, carrying 100 female convicts. No women died during this trip, but there are no medical journals available for it.

The Mary Voyage (1830)

In 1830, the Royal Navy assigned him to the convict ship Mary. It arrived in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) on April 10, 1830, with 167 male prisoners. Only one prisoner died on this voyage.

The Roslin Castle Voyage (1834)

During his journey on the Roslin Castle, Robert Espie kept a medical journal. He wrote about seven serious cases, and three of these patients died. One was a 19-year-old named James Bond, who hid his illness and died on the ship. Another was Edward Gale, 29, who was already sick before the journey and later died from a ruptured blood vessel. The third patient was George Turner, a 69-year-old man who caught a chill. Even with Espie's care, he didn't get better. Espie noted that the man might have lived if the ship hadn't been so wet and cold.

The Elizabeth Voyage (1836)

In 1836, he was asked to serve on the Elizabeth. This was a ship for female convicts. Espie noted that the women were "wild and defiant." He was almost stabbed by one of them before he even left! Despite the challenges, no one died on this voyage.

Robert Espie's Legacy

Robert Espie's most important legacy is his collection of medical journals. These journals describe his time working on convict ships that sailed to Australia. These ships played a big part in populating the penal colonies (places where prisoners were sent) of the UK. His journals offer a unique, first-hand look at what life was like for both the surgeons and the convicts during these long and difficult sea journeys.