On This Day February 28, 1799

John Irving becomes the first convict to be freed in the New South Wales colony.

John Irving, sometimes written as Irwin or Irvine, was born around 1760, exact date unknown. He came to the penal colony of New South Wales with the First Fleet, after being sentenced in 1784 to seven years for stealing a silver cup. Originally interred on the 'Scarborough', he was later transferred to the 'Lady Penrhyn' for transportation.

Irving proved an able surgeon's assistant, both on the voyage to New South Wales, and once the settlement was established. His hard work and "unremitting good conduct and meritorious behaviour" earned him an early reprieve from his sentence. Governor Phillip signed his Warrant of Emancipation on 28 February 1790, making Irving the first convict to be freed. He accompanied surgeon Dennis Considen to Norfolk Island, where he remained as surgeon's assistant for over a year before returning to Port Jackson in May 1791. He was then awarded 30 acres of land at Parramatta.

On This Day February 27, 1788

The first convict is hanged in the colony of New South Wales.


The First Fleet of convicts to New South Wales assembled in Portsmouth, England, and set sail on 13 May 1787. They arrived in Botany Bay on 18 January 1788. After determining that Botany Bay was unsuitable for settlement, Captain Arthur Phillip led the Fleet northwards to Port Jackson, arriving on 26 January 1788.


Conditions in the new colony were tough. The English tools could not stand up to the hard work of tilling the Australian soil, and they broke easily. The convicts were disinclined to work hard, many of them not being used to manual labour, and the heat and humidity of the Australian climate only added to their discomfort and lack of motivation to work. In addition, rations had to be meted out very carefully until farms could start producing crops. Many convicts were hungry enough to steal food, and punishment for theft was severe, ranging from lashing with a cat o' nine tails, or even death by hanging. Governor Phillip could not afford for any rations to be lost to theft, so he felt compelled to enforce harsh disciplinary measures.


The first convict to be hanged in New South Wales was seventeen year old Thomas Barrett. Less than a month after the colony was established, Barrett was found stealing "butter, pease and pork". In a ceremony which all convicts were forced to witness, Barrett was hanged, on 27 February 1788.