LIST 29 - THE ROYAL NAVY & THE FIRST GENERATION
George Collins-Yates
Young George joined 'HMS Porpoise' under Captain Short in 1806, he was only
twelve years old at the time, so in all probability he was taken on as a
"captains boy" but it is not know for certain if he attained commissioned
rank. Since his elder step-brother Joseph Theakston-Yates disappeared from colonial records at about the same time it is possible that he too may
have joined the Navy.
Robert Johnston
Robert was made an honorary "ships boy" to Lt Kent on 'HMS Buffalo' on
his voyage to England in 1800 at the age of eight, allowing him to claim to
be the first native born son to "join" the Royal Navy. After schooling in England he enlisted as a first class volunteer on 'HMS Malabar' in 1807, later that year being made midshipman. In 1808 he served on 'HMS Semiramis' and then in 1810 on 'HMS Norge'. He saw active service in Wellington's Peninsular
campaign as well as the war with American of 1812-15. By 1813 he passed his lieutenancy exams and became masters mate of his ship.
Robert saw both the funeral of Admiral Nelson in London in 1805 and met Captain
Hardy whilst serving in America.
He was placed on half-pay in 1815 and returned to Sydney to visit his family
in 1816. Governor Macquarie commissioned him to do several voyages of
exploration along the New South Wales coast whilst he was back in the colony.
After the death of his elder brother George in 1820, Robert decided to
stay in the colony to assist in the management of the family's grazing interests.
He was promoted Captain in 1865 and eventually retired from the Royal Navy in 1871.
Phillip Parker King
Phillip was probably the most illustrious Naval Officer the colony produced,
at least until the First or Second World War.
The late, great, lamented Matthew Flinders in believed to have started Phillip
on his surveying career. Between 1818 and 1822 he surveyed the Australian coast
in the 'Mermaid' and the 'Bathurst' later writing a book on his efforts. Then
again from 1826 to 1830 he surveyed the South American coast and once again
publishing a book on his efforts.He is believed to be the first Australian born to attain eminence outside of
the colony.
When he died as a Rear-Admiral in North Sydney at the age of 65 he would be
the only colonial born officer to reach that rank for many years to come.
Norfolk Inett King
From an undocumented source on the internet it is claimed that Norfolk saw
active service in the Dardenelles campaign (how prescient for a later
generation of 'colonials'), the Napoleonic Wars, and the Anglo-American War of 1812.
Norfolk was still only a Lieutenant in the Navy when he died at the age of
50 at Stepney in London, so his career can't have been as illustrious as his
step-brother's.
Sydney Inett King
From the same undocumented source on the internet it is claimed that Sydney
saw active service against the French throughout the Napoleonic Wars, was taken prisoner for at time in North Carolina during the Anglo-American War, served
as part of the Naval Guard for Napoleon on the island of St Helena.Sydney is not believed to have surpassed the rank of Lieutenant at the time
of his death in 1841 in Essex.
It is not known if Norfolk and Sydney attended the Portsmouth Naval Academy
like their step-brother Phillip but in all probability they did for
their father Captain King was by all accounts a most attentive father, even
towards his natural sons.
John Mathew Wentworth
John is known to have become a midshipman in 1812 but his naval career does
not appear to have been a long one because he was back in the colony five
years later managing his father's pastoral properties.
He regretfully died at sea on board the 'Borneo' in 1820 at the age of 25 on
a return trip to England.
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