Joseph Foveaux
Encyclopedia
Joseph Foveaux was a soldier and convict settlement administrator in colonial New South Wales
, Australia.
Foveaux was baptised on 6 April 1767 at Ampthill
, Bedfordshire
, England, the sixth child of Joseph Foveaux and his wife Elizabeth, née Wheeler. Family tradition maintains he was actually born on 10 April 1766, almost a year earlier.
Foveaux was an ensign
in the 60th regiment and then joined the New South Wales Corps
in June 1789 as lieutenant and reached Sydney in 1791. There he was promoted to major and, as senior officer between August 1796 and November 1799, he controlled the Corps at a time when the senior officers were making fortunes from trading and extending their lands. He soon became the largest landholder and stock-owner in the colony.
In 1800, having established a reputation as an able and efficient administrator, Foveaux offered to go to Norfolk Island
as Lieutenant-Governor. Finding the island run down, he built it up with particular attention to public works, for which he earned the praise of Governor King
.
During this period, part of the first settlement of Norfolk Island (1788–1814), Norfolk Island was basically a free settlement with convicts making up no more than 10 per cent of the population. While some individuals were sent from Sydney as a means of isolation, the Island was not a place of secondary punishment as it became in the second settlement (1825–1855).
Judgements of Foveaux's career are often clouded by a manuscript purporting to be the recollections of Norfolk Island gaoler Robert Jones.http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=441815 This document is dated 1823, five years after Jones's death. It contains paintings of buildings on Norfolk Island which were not erected until the 1840s. Modern scholarship reveals it to be a forgery from after 1850 which contains no valid evidence on Foveaux's life and career.http://www.postcolonialweb.org/australia/wright.html
In September 1804 Foveaux left Norfolk Island for England to attend to his private affairs and seek relief for the asthma that affected him. Having recovered, he returned to New South Wales to act as Lieutenant-Governor. On arrival in July 1808, he found Governor Bligh
under arrest by officers of the New South Wales Corps in the event known as the Rum Rebellion
. Foveaux assumed control, stating that he was not favouring either Bligh or the rebels. His control was characterised by a desire for cheap and efficient administration, improvement of public works, and encouragement of small-holders.
In January 1809 the acting Lieutenant-Governor, Colonel William Paterson
, returned and Foveaux remained to assist him and his successor, Major-General Lachlan Macquarie
.
Macquarie was impressed with Foveaux's administration and put him forward as Collin's
successor as Lieutenant Governor of Tasmania as he could think of no one more fitting and considered that he could not have acted otherwise with regard to Bligh. However, when Foveaux returned to England in 1810 Macquarie's recommendation was put aside. Foveaux was promoted to Inspecting Field Officer in Ireland and in 1814 became a Major-General. He pursued an uneventful military career after that, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-General in 1830. In 1814 he married Ann Sherwin, his partner since 1793, and they had a daughter born in 1801. He died in London on 20 March 1846 and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery
.
in Surrey
, England.
Foveaux Strait
in New Zealand is named in his honour, as are streets in Airds, Barden Ridge, Bella Vista, Cromer, Harrington Park, Lurnea, Metford and Surry Hills (all in NSW) and Ainslie (ACT
).
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia.
Foveaux was baptised on 6 April 1767 at Ampthill
Ampthill
Ampthill is a small town and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England, between Bedford and Luton, with a population of about 6,000. It is administered by Central Bedfordshire Council. A regular market has taken place on Thursdays for centuries.-History:...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, England, the sixth child of Joseph Foveaux and his wife Elizabeth, née Wheeler. Family tradition maintains he was actually born on 10 April 1766, almost a year earlier.
Foveaux was an ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
in the 60th regiment and then joined the New South Wales Corps
New South Wales Corps
The New South Wales Corps was formed in England in 1789 as a permanent regiment to relieve the marines who had accompanied the First Fleet to Australia. The regiment, led by Major Francis Grose, consisted of three companies...
in June 1789 as lieutenant and reached Sydney in 1791. There he was promoted to major and, as senior officer between August 1796 and November 1799, he controlled the Corps at a time when the senior officers were making fortunes from trading and extending their lands. He soon became the largest landholder and stock-owner in the colony.
In 1800, having established a reputation as an able and efficient administrator, Foveaux offered to go to Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
as Lieutenant-Governor. Finding the island run down, he built it up with particular attention to public works, for which he earned the praise of Governor King
Philip Gidley King
Captain Philip Gidley King RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. He is best known as the official founder of the first European settlement on Norfolk Island and as the third Governor of New South Wales.-Early years and establishment of Norfolk Island settlement:King was born...
.
During this period, part of the first settlement of Norfolk Island (1788–1814), Norfolk Island was basically a free settlement with convicts making up no more than 10 per cent of the population. While some individuals were sent from Sydney as a means of isolation, the Island was not a place of secondary punishment as it became in the second settlement (1825–1855).
Judgements of Foveaux's career are often clouded by a manuscript purporting to be the recollections of Norfolk Island gaoler Robert Jones.http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=441815 This document is dated 1823, five years after Jones's death. It contains paintings of buildings on Norfolk Island which were not erected until the 1840s. Modern scholarship reveals it to be a forgery from after 1850 which contains no valid evidence on Foveaux's life and career.http://www.postcolonialweb.org/australia/wright.html
In September 1804 Foveaux left Norfolk Island for England to attend to his private affairs and seek relief for the asthma that affected him. Having recovered, he returned to New South Wales to act as Lieutenant-Governor. On arrival in July 1808, he found Governor Bligh
William Bligh
Vice Admiral William Bligh FRS RN was an officer of the British Royal Navy and a colonial administrator. A notorious mutiny occurred during his command of HMAV Bounty in 1789; Bligh and his loyal men made a remarkable voyage to Timor, after being set adrift in the Bounty's launch by the mutineers...
under arrest by officers of the New South Wales Corps in the event known as the Rum Rebellion
Rum Rebellion
The Rum Rebellion of 1808 was the only successful armed takeover of government in Australia's history. The Governor of New South Wales, William Bligh, was deposed by the New South Wales Corps under the command of Major George Johnston, working closely with John Macarthur, on 26 January 1808, 20...
. Foveaux assumed control, stating that he was not favouring either Bligh or the rebels. His control was characterised by a desire for cheap and efficient administration, improvement of public works, and encouragement of small-holders.
In January 1809 the acting Lieutenant-Governor, Colonel William Paterson
William Paterson (explorer)
Colonel William Paterson, FRS was a Scottish soldier, explorer, Lieutenant governor and botanist best known for leading early settlement in Tasmania. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Paterson when citing a botanical name.-Early years:A native of Montrose, Scotland, Paterson was...
, returned and Foveaux remained to assist him and his successor, Major-General Lachlan Macquarie
Lachlan Macquarie
Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB , was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony...
.
Macquarie was impressed with Foveaux's administration and put him forward as Collin's
David Collins (governor)
Colonel David Collins was the first Lieutenant Governor of the Colony of Van Diemens Land, founded in 1804, which in 1901 became the state of Tasmania in the Commonwealth of Australia.-Early life and military career:...
successor as Lieutenant Governor of Tasmania as he could think of no one more fitting and considered that he could not have acted otherwise with regard to Bligh. However, when Foveaux returned to England in 1810 Macquarie's recommendation was put aside. Foveaux was promoted to Inspecting Field Officer in Ireland and in 1814 became a Major-General. He pursued an uneventful military career after that, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-General in 1830. In 1814 he married Ann Sherwin, his partner since 1793, and they had a daughter born in 1801. He died in London on 20 March 1846 and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in Kensal Green, in the west of London, England. It was immortalised in the lines of G. K. Chesterton's poem The Rolling English Road from his book The Flying Inn: "For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen; Before we go to Paradise by way of...
.
Surry Hills
Surry Hills near the centre of Sydney was once a farming area owned by Foveaux. His property was known as Surry Hills Farm named after the Surrey HillsSurrey Hills AONB
The Surrey Hills is a Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , located in Surrey, England. The AONB was designated in 1958 and covers one quarter of the county of Surrey...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England.
Foveaux Strait
Foveaux Strait
Foveaux Strait separates Stewart Island/Rakiura, New Zealand's third largest island, from the South Island. Three large bays, Te Waewae Bay, Oreti Beach and Toetoes Bay, sweep along the strait's northern coast, which also hosts Bluff township and harbour. Across the strait lie the Solander...
in New Zealand is named in his honour, as are streets in Airds, Barden Ridge, Bella Vista, Cromer, Harrington Park, Lurnea, Metford and Surry Hills (all in NSW) and Ainslie (ACT
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
).
Further reading
- Whitaker, Anne-Maree, Joseph Foveaux: power and patronage in early New South Wales, Sydney, NSW University Press, 2000.http://books.google.com.au/books?isbn=0868405558
- Wright, Reg, 'The Most Flourishing Spot out of Old England', Tasmanian Historical Research Association Papers and Proceedings, vol. 46, no. 3 (1999), pp. 135–149.