Thomas Davey (governor)

Thomas Davey (* 1758 in Tiverton, UK, † May 2, 1823 in London) was a British officer and 1813-1817 Lieutenant Governor of Tasmania. He was the second Lieutenant Governor by David Collins, who was officially appointed, and the first who was responsible for the whole colony Tasmania ( north and south half ),

Life

Davey was born the son of John Davey, one was from Crediton miller and his wife Temperance Wynes in 1758. 1778 Davey could take up a career as an officer in the Royal Navy by the influence of his father. As a lieutenant, he served in 1779 on board HMS Vengeance in North America and 1780 on the HMS Preston in the West Indies. In 1787 he sailed as a volunteer on board the First Fleet to Australia. After he had tried in vain to her 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. Worth mentioning are his participation in the Battle of Camperdown, and his behavior at the mutinies at the Spithead and the Nore, where he helped to recapture a ship from the mutineers.

After the death of David Collins Davey in 1811 - apparently by his lifelong support conveyor Lord Harrowby - appointed Lieutenant Governor of Tasmania. Nevertheless, he sets out only in June 1812 his wife and children to Australia; The reasons for the delay are not known. By February 1813, Davey held on in Sydney. Lachlan Macquarie, who was in charge as Governor of New South Wales for the remaining Australian colonies, it fell to Davey his " extraordinary level of frivolity and buffoonery " on. Macquarie, which was also warned by a message of Secretary of State Henry Goulburn before Davey's character, Davey's rights curtailed sharply. He could, for example, exhibit no checks at the expense of the British Treasury, grant any lands and conclude contracts without the approval of the Governor.

Davey finally met in 1813 finally with his family in Hobart. 1814 has been certified to him by Macquarie to perform its functions are essentially correct. During his tenure, the Port of Hobart and Georgetown was open for trading and the first newspaper, the Hobart Town Gazette, came into print. Mostly Davey is however described as unfit for his office. In addition, he is said to have greatly attributed to alcohol; he is said to have invented the Blow My Skull, a punch of rum, brandy and port wine.

Due to the continued increase in attacks by marauding gangs ( " bushrangers ", mostly groups of escaped convicts ) asked Davey Macquarie to be allowed to set up its own Court in Hobart to pass sentence the criminals on the spot. Macquarie refused, however, after Davey declared martial law in April 1815. Macquerie complained several times now in the British government, Davey, known as drunken, corrupt and incompetent, and called for the replacement of Davey by Joseph Foveaux. In April 1816, finally, the deposition Davey was decided. Davey - is said to have responded very pleased at the news - received a settlement of 3,000 acres of land, which was further increased to Davey's claims point to 8,000 acres. 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 1823 in London, leaving behind an estate of less than £ 20.