Thomas Davey

Thomas Davey

Thomas Davey (* 1758 in Tiverton , United Kingdom ; † May 2, 1823 in London ) was a British officer and from 1813 to 1817 Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemens Land (now Tasmania). He was - after David Collins - the second lieutenant governor to be officially appointed and the first to be responsible for the entire colony of Van Diemens Land (northern and southern halves).

Life

Thomas Davey was born in 1758 to John Davey , a Crediton native miller, and his wife, Temperance Wynes . In 1778 Davey was able to take up an officer career in the Royal Navy through the influence of his father . As a lieutenant he served on board the HMS Vengeance in North America in 1779 and on the HMS Preston in the West Indies in 1780 . In 1787 he sailed to Australia as a volunteer aboard the First Fleet . After trying in vain for his own company within the New South Wales Corps , he returned to England. In the following years he was promoted to captain and served on ships in Europe and North America. Noteworthy are his involvement in the mutiny on the Nore in 1797, when he helped regain the ship that mutinous sailors had brought under their control, as well as his participation in the naval battle at Camperduin that year.

After David Collins's death, Davey was appointed lieutenant governor of Van Diemens Land in 1811, apparently with the support of his lifelong patron, Lord Harrowby . Nevertheless, he did not set out for Australia with his wife and children until June 1812; the reasons for the delay are unknown. Davey stayed in Sydney until February 1813 . Lachlan Macquarie , who as governor of New South Wales was also responsible for the rest of the Australian colonies, struck Davey with his "extraordinary degree of recklessness and antics". Macquarie, who had also been warned of Davey's character by a message from Secretary of State Henry Goulburn , severely restricted Davey's rights. For example, he was not allowed to write checks to be debited to the UK Treasury, lease land or enter into contracts without the approval of the governor.

Davey finally arrived in Hobart with his family in 1813 . In 1814, Macquarie certified that he was essentially performing his duties correctly. During his tenure, the port of Hobart and Georgetown opened to trade and the first newspaper, the Hobart Town Gazette , came to press. Mostly, however, Davey is described as unsuitable for his office. In addition, he is said to have strongly attributed alcohol; that's how he is said to have invented the Blow My Skull , a punch made from rum , brandy and port wine .

Due to increasing attacks by marauding gangs ("bushrangers", mostly groups of escaped convicts) Davey Macquarie asked to be allowed to set up a court of his own in Hobart in order to be able to try the criminals on site. Macquarie refused, however, whereupon Davey declared martial law in April 1815 . Macquarie complained several times to the English government, described Davey as alcoholic, corrupt and incompetent, and demanded that Davey be replaced by Joseph Foveaux . In April 1816, Davey's dismissal was finally decided. Davey - who is said to have responded very satisfied to the news - received a settlement of 3,000 acres , which was increased to 8,000 acres at Davey's request. On March 8, 1817, he handed over his office to his successor William Sorell . In the following years, however, he had no luck; he died in London in 1823, leaving possessions of less than £ 20.

literature

• PR Eldershaw: Davey, Thomas . In: Douglas Pike (Ed.): Australian Dictionary of Biography . Melbourne University Press, Carlton (Victoria) 1966–2012 (English).

Individual evidence

1. ↑ "an extraordinary degree of frivolity and low buffoonery"
2. ↑ gourmettraveller.com.au

predecessor	Office	successor
	Governor of Tasmania 1813–1817	William Sorell