Arthur Bowes Smyth (23 August 1750 – 31 March 1790) was a naval surgeon, who traveled on Lady Penrhyn as a part of the First Fleet that established a penal colony in New South Wales. Smyth kept a diary and documented the natural history he encountered in Australia.
Arthur Bowes Smyth was born on 23 August 1750 at Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex, England, and was buried there shortly after his return to England on 31 March 1790.[1][2][3] Son of Surgeon Thomas Smyth and the seventh of ten children, Arthur Bowes Smyth followed in his father's footsteps practising medicine in his place of birth until appointed "Surgeon to the Ship's Company" aboard the Lady Penrhyn in 1787.[3][4]
Whilst Bowes Smyth practiced as a surgeon for a number of years before his appointment to the First Fleet, no evidence can be found of his medical qualifications. It has been surmised that "Surgeon" was an honorary title. He is known to have practiced midwifery in his local parish of Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex, an experience that served him well in his supervision of the women convicts on the Lady Penrhyn.[4]
First Fleet Journal as Surgeon on the Lady PenrhynEdit
Bowes Smyth boarded Lady Penrhyn on 22 March 1787 before the ship departed Portsmouth for New South Wales.[5] Bowes Smyth took charge of the female prisoners on the Lady Penrhyn when the convicts' surgeon, John Turnpenny Altree, fell ill at Tenerife and, in Governor Arthur Phillip's opinion, had proved unequal to the task.[3][6][7][8] Bowes, as he was known in the colony, kept a journal from 22 March 1787 to 12 August 1789.[3] The journal is a detailed account of the voyage, recording weather observations, events on board, treatment of the sick and descriptions of ports of call en route—in particular, Rio de Janeiro and Cape Town.[4] His journal is notable for its interest in natural history including descriptions of bird life at Port Jackson and Lord Howe Island on the Lady Penrhyn's return voyage.[2][3] The journal contains 25 drawings in watercolour and ink, including the earliest known surviving illustration of the emu by a European.[1] These elements provide a unique account different from the other First Fleet Journals. Bowes Smyth's journal is one of the most detailed eyewitness accounts of the first weeks of European settlement of Australia.[9] The journal entries for 18–26 January record first impressions on arrival including interactions with Aboriginal communities and descriptions of the vegetation, intense heat, and native wildlife.[1][2]
The convicts and their children who disembarked the Lady Penrhyn at Port Jackson are listed.[1] Bowes Smyth's first journal entry, dated 22 March 1787, records the full crew list and the women convicts, their name, age, trade, crime, and term of transportation. The list of children born on the voyage contains inaccuracies regarding the sex of the child and dates of birth and death.[5] The Lady Penrhyn, under charter to the British East India Company to continue her voyage to China for a cargo of tea, departed Port Jackson in early May. The journal continues, recording the return voyage via Lord Howe Island, Tahiti, China, St Helena, and finally England.[10]
The original journal is now in the collection of the National Library of Australia and has been digitised for online viewing.[11] Manuscript 'fair copies' are held in the British Library and State Library of New South Wales. The 24 illustrations in the copy held by the State Library of New South Wales have been separated from the original journal and digitised for online viewing. The full text from the manuscript has also been digitised for online viewing.[12] The Journal was first published in 1979 by the Australian Documents Library[13]
Grass tree, or `A View of the Tree at Botany Bay, wh yields ye Yellow Balsam, & of a Wigwan
Drawing of an emu
Representation of a Bird of the Coot kind, found at Lord Howe Island
^ abcd"Arthur Bowes-Smyth, illustrated journal, 1787–1789. Titled 'A Journal of a Voyage from Portsmouth to New South Wales and China in the Lady Penrhyn, Merchantman William Cropton Sever, Commander by Arthur Bowes-Smyth, Surgeon – 1787-1788-1789'; being a fair copy compiled ca 1790". catalogue. State Library of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
^ abc. Discover Collections. State Library of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 23 June 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
^ abcdeSmyth, Arthur Bowes (1750–1790). Retrieved 1 April 2014. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ abc"The journal of Arthur Bowes Smyth : surgeon, Lady Penrhyn, 1787–1789". State Library Catalogue. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
^ abGillen, Mollie; Browning, Yvonne; Flynn, Michael C; Library of Australian History; Gillen, Mollie (1989), The founders of Australia: a biographical dictionary of the First Fleet, Library of Australian History, p. 42, ISBN978-0-908120-69-7
^Bateson, Charles; Library of Australian History (1983), The convict ships, 1787–1868 (Australian ed.), Library of Australian History, p. 38, ISBN978-0-908120-51-2
^"The convict ships, 1787–1868". State Library Catalogue. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
^Historical records of New South Wales v.1, pt. 2. Phillip, 1783–1792. Charles Potter, Government Printer. 1892–1901. p. 120.
^Smyth, Arthur Bowes (1964), Original daily journal kept on the transport "Lady Penrhyn": containing one of the most detailed accounts of the first hundred days of settlement of Australia in 1788, F. Edwards
^Historical records of New South Wales v.1, pt. 2. Phillip, 1783–1792. Charles Potter, Government Printer. 1892–1901. pp. 126, 136.
^Williams, Nat (16 April 2014). "The Bowes Smyth First Fleet journal". Treasures Blog. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
^Arthur Bowes-Smyth, illustrated journal, 1787-1789. Titled `A Journal of a Voyage from Portsmouth to New South Wales and China in the Lady Penrhyn, Merchantman William Cropton Sever, Commander by Arthur Bowes-Smyth, Surgeon - 1787-1788-1789'; being a fair copy compiled ca 1790, and pen and ink (disbound), held by State Library of New South Wales, Safe 1/15.
^Smyth, Arthur Bowes; Fidlon, Paul G (1979), Ryan, R J (ed.), The journal of Arthur Bowes Smyth : surgeon, Lady Penrhyn, 1787–1789, Australian Documents Library, ISBN978-0-908219-00-1
Further readingEdit
Bateson, Charles (1983). The convict ships, 1787-1868. Library of Australian History. ISBN0908120516.
Egan, Jack (1999). Buried alive : Sydney 1788–1792: eyewitness accounts of the making of a nation. Allen & Unwin. ISBN9781865081380.
Fidlion & Ryan, Paul G. & B.A. (1979). The journal of Arthur Bowes Smyth: surgeon, Lady Penrhyn, 1787-1789. Australian Documents Library. ISBN0908219008.
Historical records of New South Wales v.1, pt. 2. Phillip, 1783-1792 (1892-1901). NSW Government Printer.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arthur Bowes Smyth and Journal of Arthur Bowes Smyth.
A Journal of a Voyage from Portsmouth to New South Wales and China – in the Lady Penrhyn, Merchantman – William Cropton Sever, Commander by Arthur Bowes, Smyth, Surgeon – 1787-1788-1789 (transcript)
Project Gutenberg Australia Formatted transcript of Arthur Bowes Smyth's Journal, with images, edited by Colin Choat. Accessed 19 January 2020.
"Smyth, Arthur Bowes 1750-1790" Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University
October 20, 2023
arthur, bowes, smyth, august, 1750, march, 1790, naval, surgeon, traveled, lady, penrhyn, part, first, fleet, that, established, penal, colony, south, wales, smyth, kept, diary, documented, natural, history, encountered, australia, title, page, journalborn, 17. Arthur Bowes Smyth 23 August 1750 31 March 1790 was a naval surgeon who traveled on Lady Penrhyn as a part of the First Fleet that established a penal colony in New South Wales Smyth kept a diary and documented the natural history he encountered in Australia Arthur Bowes SmythArthur Bowes Smyth Title page of his journalBorn 1750 08 23 23 August 1750Tolleshunt D Arcy Essex EnglandDied31 March 1790 1790 03 31 aged 39 Tolleshunt D Arcy Essex EnglandOccupationSurgeonKnown forSurgeon on Lady Penrhyn diarist and natural history artistParent s Thomas Smyth surgeon and Mary Smyth Contents 1 Early life and medical career 2 First Fleet Journal as Surgeon on the Lady Penrhyn 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksEarly life and medical career EditArthur Bowes Smyth was born on 23 August 1750 at Tolleshunt D Arcy Essex England and was buried there shortly after his return to England on 31 March 1790 1 2 3 Son of Surgeon Thomas Smyth and the seventh of ten children Arthur Bowes Smyth followed in his father s footsteps practising medicine in his place of birth until appointed Surgeon to the Ship s Company aboard the Lady Penrhyn in 1787 3 4 Whilst Bowes Smyth practiced as a surgeon for a number of years before his appointment to the First Fleet no evidence can be found of his medical qualifications It has been surmised that Surgeon was an honorary title He is known to have practiced midwifery in his local parish of Tolleshunt D Arcy Essex an experience that served him well in his supervision of the women convicts on the Lady Penrhyn 4 First Fleet Journal as Surgeon on the Lady Penrhyn EditBowes Smyth boarded Lady Penrhyn on 22 March 1787 before the ship departed Portsmouth for New South Wales 5 Bowes Smyth took charge of the female prisoners on the Lady Penrhyn when the convicts surgeon John Turnpenny Altree fell ill at Tenerife and in Governor Arthur Phillip s opinion had proved unequal to the task 3 6 7 8 Bowes as he was known in the colony kept a journal from 22 March 1787 to 12 August 1789 3 The journal is a detailed account of the voyage recording weather observations events on board treatment of the sick and descriptions of ports of call en route in particular Rio de Janeiro and Cape Town 4 His journal is notable for its interest in natural history including descriptions of bird life at Port Jackson and Lord Howe Island on the Lady Penrhyn s return voyage 2 3 The journal contains 25 drawings in watercolour and ink including the earliest known surviving illustration of the emu by a European 1 These elements provide a unique account different from the other First Fleet Journals Bowes Smyth s journal is one of the most detailed eyewitness accounts of the first weeks of European settlement of Australia 9 The journal entries for 18 26 January record first impressions on arrival including interactions with Aboriginal communities and descriptions of the vegetation intense heat and native wildlife 1 2 The convicts and their children who disembarked the Lady Penrhyn at Port Jackson are listed 1 Bowes Smyth s first journal entry dated 22 March 1787 records the full crew list and the women convicts their name age trade crime and term of transportation The list of children born on the voyage contains inaccuracies regarding the sex of the child and dates of birth and death 5 The Lady Penrhyn under charter to the British East India Company to continue her voyage to China for a cargo of tea departed Port Jackson in early May The journal continues recording the return voyage via Lord Howe Island Tahiti China St Helena and finally England 10 The original journal is now in the collection of the National Library of Australia and has been digitised for online viewing 11 Manuscript fair copies are held in the British Library and State Library of New South Wales The 24 illustrations in the copy held by the State Library of New South Wales have been separated from the original journal and digitised for online viewing The full text from the manuscript has also been digitised for online viewing 12 The Journal was first published in 1979 by the Australian Documents Library 13 nbsp Grass tree or A View of the Tree at Botany Bay wh yields ye Yellow Balsam amp of a Wigwan nbsp Drawing of an emu nbsp Representation of a Bird of the Coot kind found at Lord Howe Island nbsp The Bread FruitSee also EditJournals of the First FleetReferences Edit a b c d Arthur Bowes Smyth illustrated journal 1787 1789 Titled A Journal of a Voyage from Portsmouth to New South Wales and China in the Lady Penrhyn Merchantman William Cropton Sever Commander by Arthur Bowes Smyth Surgeon 1787 1788 1789 being a fair copy compiled ca 1790 catalogue State Library of New South Wales Retrieved 1 April 2014 a b c Arthur Bowes Smyth 1750 1790 Discover Collections State Library of New South Wales Archived from the original on 23 June 2014 Retrieved 1 April 2014 a b c d e Smyth Arthur Bowes 1750 1790 Retrieved 1 April 2014 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help a b c The journal of Arthur Bowes Smyth surgeon Lady Penrhyn 1787 1789 State Library Catalogue Retrieved 2 April 2014 a b Gillen Mollie Browning Yvonne Flynn Michael C Library of Australian History Gillen Mollie 1989 The founders of Australia a biographical dictionary of the First Fleet Library of Australian History p 42 ISBN 978 0 908120 69 7 Bateson Charles Library of Australian History 1983 The convict ships 1787 1868 Australian ed Library of Australian History p 38 ISBN 978 0 908120 51 2 The convict ships 1787 1868 State Library Catalogue Retrieved 2 April 2014 Historical records of New South Wales v 1 pt 2 Phillip 1783 1792 Charles Potter Government Printer 1892 1901 p 120 Smyth Arthur Bowes 1964 Original daily journal kept on the transport Lady Penrhyn containing one of the most detailed accounts of the first hundred days of settlement of Australia in 1788 F Edwards Historical records of New South Wales v 1 pt 2 Phillip 1783 1792 Charles Potter Government Printer 1892 1901 pp 126 136 Williams Nat 16 April 2014 The Bowes Smyth First Fleet journal Treasures Blog National Library of Australia Retrieved 16 April 2014 Arthur Bowes Smyth illustrated journal 1787 1789 Titled A Journal of a Voyage from Portsmouth to New South Wales and China in the Lady Penrhyn Merchantman William Cropton Sever Commander by Arthur Bowes Smyth Surgeon 1787 1788 1789 being a fair copy compiled ca 1790 and pen and ink disbound held by State Library of New South Wales Safe 1 15 Smyth Arthur Bowes Fidlon Paul G 1979 Ryan R J ed The journal of Arthur Bowes Smyth surgeon Lady Penrhyn 1787 1789 Australian Documents Library ISBN 978 0 908219 00 1Further reading EditBateson Charles 1983 The convict ships 1787 1868 Library of Australian History ISBN 0908120516 Egan Jack 1999 Buried alive Sydney 1788 1792 eyewitness accounts of the making of a nation Allen amp Unwin ISBN 9781865081380 Fidlion amp Ryan Paul G amp B A 1979 The journal of Arthur Bowes Smyth surgeon Lady Penrhyn 1787 1789 Australian Documents Library ISBN 0908219008 Historical records of New South Wales v 1 pt 2 Phillip 1783 1792 1892 1901 NSW Government Printer External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to wbr Arthur Bowes Smyth and wbr Journal of Arthur Bowes Smyth A Journal of a Voyage from Portsmouth to New South Wales and China in the Lady Penrhyn Merchantman William Cropton Sever Commander by Arthur Bowes Smyth Surgeon 1787 1788 1789 transcript Project Gutenberg Australia Formatted transcript of Arthur Bowes Smyth s Journal with images edited by Colin Choat Accessed 19 January 2020 Arthur Bowes Smyth 1750 1790 Discover Collections State Library of New South Wales Smyth Arthur Bowes 1750 1790 Australian Dictionary of Biography Australian National University Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arthur Bowes Smyth amp oldid 1152922436, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
