Who is Captain Arthur Phillip?

Captain Arthur Phillip was the leader of the first European settlement in Australia. He was the first Governor.

Arthur Phillip was born in London, England in 1738. His career in the Navy began in 1751.

He was chosen to command the First Fleet for many reasons including his basic understanding of farming principles, his sensitive ways and experience in commanding men. Phillip spent many months planning for the voyage. He was  well organised. He planned to treat the Aborigines well and believed in helping the convicts to become better people.

Governor Phillip contributed much to the development of the colony. The first few years saw a great shortage of food. Everyone was on rationed food, including Governor Phillip. The land was not suitable for growing crops and few convicts knew anything about farming. Phillip explored the surrounding area to find more suitable farming land in places like Parramatta.

In letters to England, Phillip wrote often about his concerns and the difficulties faced by the colonists:

“I have now given up hopes of recovering the two Bulls and four Cows that were lost; and one sheep only remains of upwards of seventy which I had purchased at the Cape.”

“The number of Convicts were employed in erecting the necessary buildings and cultivating the Lands only amounts to 320… and the whole number of people victualled [fed] amounts to 966… consequently we have only the labour of a part to provide for the whole.”

“…a very considerable quantity of Barley, and many Seeds had rotted in the Ground, having been heated in the Passage, and some much injured by the Weevil…”

Even after he returned to England in 1792, Phillip kept up an interest in NSW as evidenced through his letters. He died in Bath, England in 1814.

Video introduction about his life: