Arthur Phillip

Arthur Phillip (1738-1814), British naval officer, creator and governor of the first European settlement in the colony of New South Wales, Australia. Born in London, Phillip joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman in 1755, saw active service in the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), and then retired on half-pay. He farmed for several years, became an officer in the Portuguese navy, and in 1778, at a time of war with France, rejoined the Royal Navy. In 1784 he again retired on half-pay. Two years later the British government chose Phillip to settle and govern a penal colony in Botany Bay (near modern Sydney) in New South Wales.

In May 1787 Phillip directed the 11 ships of the First Fleet to set sail for Australia. In January 1788 the fleet arrived at Botany Bay with more than 1,450 passengers, including 736 convicts, 211 marines, and 20 civil officials. (Most of the fleet's 443 seamen later sailed on with all but one of the ships.) Finding Botany Bay unsuitable for settlement, Phillip moved north to Sydney Cove, and on January 26 officially founded the new colony. During the first few years he overcame a shortage of farming skills among the convicts, a hot and dry climate, the threat of starvation because of poor supplies, and disobedience among the convicts. In 1790 the second fleet arrived with more supplies, convicts with appropriate skills, and the New South Wales Corps—the colony's own army regiment. By the time Phillip resigned, because of ill health, in July 1793, he had laid the foundation of a viable settlement and had brought 700 hectares (1730 acres) under cultivation. By 1796 Phillip was fit enough to rejoin the Navy, and was promoted to admiral shortly before his death.