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| Portrait of John Macarthur, wool pioneer in Australia., State Library of NSW |
Steam Engine Power
Whist making such a claim about Macarthur's mental health hundreds of years after he has lived and died seems problematic, it is evident that Macarthur experienced cycles of "steam engine power" and periods of terrible depression. In 1832 he was declared insane and two years later, he died on 11 April 1834.
In NSW, Macarthur was appointed paymaster and Inspector of Government Works and Francis Grose granted Macarthur large areas of land, including the land on which Macarthur and his wife established Elizabeth Farm at Parramatta.
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| Drawing of the penal transportation ship "Neptune" that operated between England and Australia |
On The Hellship
As a British army officer, John Macarthur arrived on the hellship, the Neptune, with his wife Elizabeth, part of the Second Fleet, in New South Wales in 1790.
Unlike the First Fleet which arrived in Sydney with a mortality rate of 5.4 per cent and which had largely been organised and administered by Arthur Phillip, the Second Fleet had been contracted out to a former old slave-trading company named: Camden, Calvert and King.
The Second Fleet became known as "The Death Fleet" as there was a 40 per cent mortality within six months of arrival in Sydney. The words of the First Fleet’s Chaplain, Reverend Richard Johnson, described the scene of the Neptune's Sydney arrival:
“I beheld a sight truly shocking to the feelings of humanity, a great number of them laying, some half, others nearly quite naked, without either bed or bedding, unable to turn or help themselves.
“Spoke to them as I passed along, but the smell was so offensive that I could scarcely bear it…. The landing of these people was truly affecting and shocking; great numbers were not able to walk, nor to move hand or foot; such were slung over the ship side in the same manner as they would a cask, a box, or anything of that nature.
“Upon their being brought up to the open air some fainted, some died upon deck, and others in the boat before they reached the shore. Some creeped upon their hands and knees, and some were carried upon the backs of others.”
The Second Fleet became known as "The Death Fleet" as there was a 40 per cent mortality within six months of arrival in Sydney. The words of the First Fleet’s Chaplain, Reverend Richard Johnson, described the scene of the Neptune's Sydney arrival:
“I beheld a sight truly shocking to the feelings of humanity, a great number of them laying, some half, others nearly quite naked, without either bed or bedding, unable to turn or help themselves.
“Spoke to them as I passed along, but the smell was so offensive that I could scarcely bear it…. The landing of these people was truly affecting and shocking; great numbers were not able to walk, nor to move hand or foot; such were slung over the ship side in the same manner as they would a cask, a box, or anything of that nature.
“Upon their being brought up to the open air some fainted, some died upon deck, and others in the boat before they reached the shore. Some creeped upon their hands and knees, and some were carried upon the backs of others.”
Fighting Duels
Before the Neptune, the "worst ship in the worst of Australian fleets" had even departed Plymouth, John Macarthur became embroiled in various disputes. One of these disputes was his fighting a duel with Captain Gilbert, the Master of the Neptune. The pair met at the Fountain Tavern, Plymouth Docks and fought a bloodless duel.
Before the Neptune, the "worst ship in the worst of Australian fleets" had even departed Plymouth, John Macarthur became embroiled in various disputes. One of these disputes was his fighting a duel with Captain Gilbert, the Master of the Neptune. The pair met at the Fountain Tavern, Plymouth Docks and fought a bloodless duel.
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| Two protagonists clash gun before three witnesses |
It must be said in Macarthur's defence that the Neptune would become famous as a hellish death ship and he was travelling in cramped conditions with his pregnant wife and young child, to the other side of the world.
Soon afterwards, Macarthur fought another duel with Captain Gilbert's successor, after which, Macarthur transferred his family to another ship, the Scarborough.
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| Elizabeth Farm, Rosehill, NSW, built 1793 |
The Great Perturbator
But Macarthur was developing a reputation as being outspoken and argumentative.
The Timeless Land, Eleanor Dark - historical fiction about the European settlement and exploration of Australia.
Macarthur was challenged to another duel, this time by surgeon and landholder, William Balmain, in February 1796.
Balmain called Macarthur a, "base rascal and an atrocious liar and villain", after Macarthur had become incensed when Balmain had given advice in his role as a magistrate, to John Baughan, whose house had been wrecked by soldiers of Macarthur's company of the New South Wales Corps.
Macarthur who is often remembered as a pioneer of the Australian wool industry, along with his indomitable wife Elizabeth, was a complex character. He is described as having a magnetic personality and a sense of his superiority. He could be unscrupulous and yet, undoubtedly, he possessed talent and drive. Sometimes too much drive, which became mania.
John Macarthur died in April 1834, aged 65. He buried at Camden Park.
Books To read
Bedlam at Botany Bay, by Dr James Dunk - a book about mental illness in the early NSW colony.
Then things got worse when Macarthur became involved in a dispute with the Judge-Advocate, Richard Atkins, who Macarthur declared "a public cheater living in the most boundless dissipation". For various reasons, Governor Hunter passed over Macarthur's complaints and sided with Atkins.
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| Captain John Hunter, Governor of New South Wales, 1801. State Library of New South Wales |
So, Macarthur became involved in a campaign alleging that Governor John Hunter’s administration (1795-1800) was ineffective and trafficking in rum. Which led to Governor Hunter being recalled to England to defend these charges and his reputation.
After 1796 Macarthur, known as "the great perturbator", continued to be at the centre of complaints. Or in the words of Governor King "sowing discord and strife".
After 1796 Macarthur, known as "the great perturbator", continued to be at the centre of complaints. Or in the words of Governor King "sowing discord and strife".
In 1801, Macarthur tried to organise a social boycott of Governor King, but Colonel Patterson refused to boycott the governor, which resulted in Paterson challenging Macarthur to a duel in which Paterson was severely wounded in the shoulder.
Rum Rebellion
In 1808 Macarthur was a lead agitator in the Rum Rebellion, which led to the NSW Corps, led by Major George Johnston, overthrowing Governor Bligh in a military coup on 26 January. Macarthur served as Colonial-Secretary in the rebel administration, until he was removed by Governor Macquarie.
In 1808 Macarthur was a lead agitator in the Rum Rebellion, which led to the NSW Corps, led by Major George Johnston, overthrowing Governor Bligh in a military coup on 26 January. Macarthur served as Colonial-Secretary in the rebel administration, until he was removed by Governor Macquarie.
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| The arrest of Governor Bligh, 1808, artist unknown, watercolour drawing, Attached to the left hand wall in the image is a sheet with text, "O what can the matter be", Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales |
Macarthur who is often remembered as a pioneer of the Australian wool industry, along with his indomitable wife Elizabeth, was a complex character. He is described as having a magnetic personality and a sense of his superiority. He could be unscrupulous and yet, undoubtedly, he possessed talent and drive. Sometimes too much drive, which became mania.
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| Elizabeth Macarthur (1766-1850) State Library of NSW |
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| John Macarthur was confined in this room as he became more mentally ill |
In the end, Macarthur went mad. He became "so wild and incoherent" and was thought to be "completely deranged" as he experienced paranoid delusions involving his sons.
Bedlam at Botany Bay, by Dr James Dunk - a book about mental illness in the early NSW colony.
The Timeless Land, Eleanor Dark - historical fiction about the European settlement and exploration of Australia.
