Watkin Tench facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Watkin Tench
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Portrait of Watkin Tench
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| Born | 6 October 1758 Chester, Cheshire, England |
| Died | 7 May 1833 (aged 74) Devonport, England |
| Allegiance | Great Britain (1776–1800) United Kingdom (1800–1827) |
| Service/ |
Royal Marines |
| Years of service | 1776–1815 1819–1827 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Battles/wars | American Revolutionary War French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars |
| Other work | Writer |
Watkin Tench (born October 6, 1758 – died May 7, 1833) was a British marine officer. He is famous for writing two books about his time with the First Fleet. This fleet started the first European settlement in Australia in 1788. His books, Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay and Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson, tell the story of the colony's first four years.
Contents
Early Life and Military Start
Watkin Tench was born in Chester, England, on October 6, 1758. His father, Fisher Tench, was a dancing teacher.
Watkin joined the Royal Marines when he was 17, in 1776. He became a first lieutenant two years later. He fought in the American Revolutionary War against American forces. During this war, he was captured in 1778 when his ship, HMS Mermaid, was attacked by the French. Tench was in charge of the Marines on board. He was held prisoner in Philadelphia but was set free a few months later.
Journey to Australia
After his time in the American War, Tench spent some time in the Caribbean. In 1786, he decided to take a break from the military.
However, his break did not last long. In October 1786, the British Admiralty (the government department in charge of the navy) asked for volunteers. They needed officers for a new group called the New South Wales Marine Corps. This group would serve for three years at Botany Bay in Australia. Tench volunteered and was accepted in December 1786. He sailed on the ship Charlotte in May 1787.
Life in the New Colony
Before leaving England, Tench made a deal with a publishing company. He would write a book about his journey and the first months of the new colony. His first book, Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay, was published in 1789. It was very popular and was translated into several languages, including French and German.
In Australia, Tench was an important figure. He was one of the first Europeans to see the Nepean River. His writings give us a lot of information about the Aboriginal Australians living in Sydney, like the Gadigal and Cammeraygal people. He became friends with some Aboriginal people, including Bennelong and Barangaroo.
Tench stayed in Sydney until December 1791. He then sailed back to England on HMS Gorgon, arriving in July 1792. While in Australia, he studied how the colony was growing for his second book.
Later Life and Retirement
Back in England
In October 1792, Tench married Anna Maria Sargent. The next year, he published his second book, Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson. This book was also very popular.
Tench continued his military career. He served on HMS Alexander and was part of the British fleet blocking the French port of Brest.
During the Napoleonic Wars
In November 1794, Tench's ship, HMS Alexander, was captured by three French ships after a tough battle. Tench and other officers were held prisoner in France for six months. During this time, Tench wrote letters that later became the basis for a third book, Letters written in France to a Friend in London. He was released in May 1795.
After returning to service, Tench spent four years on HMS Polyphemus. He helped protect convoy ships in the Atlantic Ocean. He continued to serve until 1802. After that, he worked in shore jobs at places like Chatham and Plymouth. He retired from full-time service in 1815 as a major general.
Final Years
In 1819, Tench was called back to duty as a Commandant in the Plymouth division. He was 61 years old. Even though he and his wife did not have their own children, they took care of three nephews and a niece in 1821 after the children lost their parents.
Watkin Tench retired for good in July 1827 as a lieutenant general. He passed away in Devonport, England, on May 7, 1833, at the age of 74.
