David Blackburn (1 January 1753 – 10 January 1795) was a

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

officer. He was the Master of in the First Fleet that established the British settlement in

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, Australia in 1788.

Early life

Blackburn was born on 1 January 1753 at Newbury, Berkshire, England. He was eldest son of Rev. John Blackburn and his wife Elizabeth, née Martineau. His family moved to Norwich after John's death in 1762.

Career

He joined the Royal Navy on 5 May 1779, serving as a midshipman in . He was serving as master of in the west Indies in 1785.

First Fleet

In April 1787 he was appointed master of ''Supply'', part of the First Fleet that established British settlement in New South Wales. During this time he wrote a series of letters to family members and friends, many of which are still extant. These letters describe the events of the voyage and the early days of settlement, including Blackburn's participation in the expedition to Norfolk Island to establish a settlement there in February 1788. Blackburn's letters record the change in his feelings towards the voyage. Initially reluctant to join the Fleet, shortly before the Fleet left he told his letter in a letter that "my dislike to the voyage begins gradually to wear off". ''Supply'' was part of the advance party of ships which arrived in Botany Bay on 18 January. Blackburn also joined Phillip's expedition in search of a better location for the settlement, and describes Sydney Harbour as "excellent and extensive".

Death

He died of illness on 10 January 1795 at Haslar Naval Hospital, Gosport,

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English cities on its south coast, Southampton and Portsmouth, Hampshire ...

, England.

References

1753 births 1795 deaths Explorers of Australia 18th-century deaths from tuberculosis Tuberculosis deaths in England First Fleet {{UK-navy-bio-stub