At least one person who visited Sydney left with the impression that this is a statue of Napoleon Bonaparte. She probably isn't the only one.Despite the wonderful bicorn hat, this isn't the Little General. Nevertheless the subject of this sculpture by Marc Clark, which is in The Rocks, looking over Sydney Harbour, had a pretty interesting story.
He was William Bligh, was the fourth Governor of the colony of New South Wales (August 1806 - Jan 1808); the same Bligh who suffered mutiny on the Bounty in 1789. Bligh faced another mutiny in Sydney during the "Rum Rebellion" in 1808, when the military, known as the "Rum Corps", ordered his arrest. The Rum Rebellion was the only successful armed takeover of government in Australia's recorded history.
In 1809, Lieutenant Colonel Lachlan Macquarie arrived in Sydney (Governor 1810-1821) to restore order and the "Rum Corps" was ordered back to England.
Does anyone know the reason (or can anyone make up a story!) why the British military was known as the "Rum Corps" ?
The Rum Rebellion is one of the most interesting stories of Australia's colonial history. If you are interested, you can read more about it here. And here's an interactive graphic novel about William Bligh. Perhaps a better memorial to Bligh is the replica of the Bounty that sails around Sydney Harbour these days. It was built for the movie starring Mel Gibson.
A much-maligned fellow, William Bligh, in my opinion Sally.Have many photos to look at on your blog, having been in Sydney for last 2 weeks. I send a very BIG thank you, for stimualting my interest in the suburb I came from, Arncliffe, also my desire to learn more about the area. My Arncliffe photos will be the subject of my blog for the next little while. TA MUCHLY!
ReplyDeletePerhaps it was a better syllabus, perhaps better teachers, sally, but enjoying the benefits of being in Primary School in the 40s, I'd assumed the story of the Rum Corps (not to mention the Rum Hospital?) would be fairly well known.
ReplyDeleteRather than the references you suggest, Doc Evatt's Rum Rebellion (written as it was before his sad degeneration) is a readable discussion of the "Rebellion", and gives a far better perspective on why Bligh was so popular among the general population at that time,
Thankyou cabacurl and Norman.
ReplyDeleteI am aware of the Evatt discussion, however, I thought that perhaps for an interenational audience who had not the advantage of your (NSW?) 1940s, nor my Victorian 1960s primary school education, something a little more "entry level" may be appropriate. Afficianados, can of course, follow their own trails.
Thanks for the welcome back Sally. There will be much that will be familiar to you in my blog over the next week or so, including my beloved London Plane trees in Arncliffe Park. I couldn't have timed it much better :)
ReplyDeleteI've always believed they were called the rum corps because they were paid, at least partially, with rum rations.
ReplyDeletec'est peut-être un cousin de Napoleon ;o).
ReplyDeleteBelle statue. Je te souhaite un bon Week end
it is perhaps a cousin of Napoleon ;O).
Beautiful statue. I wish you good Week end
Sally, in the late 18th century rum became a medium of trade in many British colonies and the officers of the New South Wales Corps were able to use their position to buy up all the imported rum and then exchange it for labour and goods at very favourable rates, thus earning them the nickname The Rum Corps.
ReplyDeleteWhere exactly is Bligh's statue, I didn't know there was one in Sydney.
Paul - it's just to the side of Cadman's Cottage.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting lesson of History. Thanks a lot.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sally, I must have walked by this statue many times without even noticing it.
ReplyDeleteIt really looks like Napoleon Bonaparte. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteSeda
I know Bligh well...Mutiny On the Bounty and all that! Greetings from Toruń Daily Photo. Thanks for leaving a message today...I have already replied to it!
ReplyDeleteThe hat is same kind and perhaps the position too as Napoleon.
ReplyDeleteInteresting story from a history.
I wish you a good weekend and many thanks for your comments on my blog, Sally!
Sally, have you read the three books by C.Nordhoff and J.N.Hall: "Mutiny on the Bounty", "Men against the Sea" and "Pitcairn's Island"? They have part of my favourites!
ReplyDeleteAm appalled to think I've walked this part of Sydney many times and didn't notice this statue. Now, had I been a DP photographer at the time, I'd have noticed it - as I notice everything now.
ReplyDeleteThe Rocks is such a beautiful area. Lovely photo.
I would never have thought he was Napolean Bonaparte. First off, he looks tall. Secondly, he doesn't have his hands in his shirt. ;-)
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