Rum and other alcohol become the currency of the day and the NSW Corps gained a monopoly on it, thus being called the "Rum Corps" by the colonists. The handing out of large land grants to officers, the control of grazing stock and grain also added to their power.
When Governor King tried to place some controls on the Corps, he met strong opposition. The English authorities decided to sent Naval hero William Bligh out as his replacement in 1806 to restore control to the Governor and reduce the power of the Corps. He met even stronger opposition from leaders of the Rum Corp including the wealthy and influential John Macarthur, a former member of the Corps.
William Bligh |
The dispute reached peak in 1808 when troops commanded by Major George Johnston entered Government House during a dinner party and arrested Bligh. Until the arrival of Lachlan Macquarie in 1810, the Rum Corps and John Macarthur ran the colony as they wished; handing out favours to their supporters. Both Macarthur and Johnston were tried for the insurrection, but received little punishment. Both returned to amass their fortunes in NSW.
Painting of Major Johnston proclaiming the overthrow of Bligh |
http://www2.sl.nsw.gov.au/archive/discover_collections/history_nation/terra_australis/rebellion/
Most farmers along the Hawkesbury-Nepean supported Bligh, as he had distributed grain stores to the families during floods, against the wishes of the Corps. The local link to the rebellion comes mainly through Reverend Henry Fulton and former Corps Officer Thomas Hobby.
Fulton was having dinner with Bligh when the troops entered Government House. He was put in detention and stopped from preaching by the Corps. He went to England in 1810 to give evidence on behalf of his friend Bligh.
Hobby had been in the Corps and taken part in the trading ring. Governor King had accused him of sedition and he left the Corps, but still involved himself in their activities. After the arrest of Bligh he and other supporters tried to get farmers in the Hawkesbury-Nepean to sign a letter of support for the rebellion. They managed only four signatures.
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