Enmity between Bligh and Macarthur Rum Rebellion
macarthur
macarthur had arrived new south wales corps in 1790 lieutenant, , 1805 had substantial farming , commercial interests in colony. had quarrelled bligh s predecessor governors , had fought 3 duels.
bligh , macarthur s interests clashed in number of ways. bligh stopped macarthur cheaply distributing large quantities of rum corps. halted macarthur s allegedly illegal importation of stills. macarthur s interest in area of land granted him governor king conflicted bligh s town-planning interests. macarthur , bligh engaged in other disagreements, including conflict on landing regulations. in june 1807, convict had stowed away , escaped sydney on 1 of macarthur s vessels, , in december 1807, when vessel returned sydney, bond held ensure compliance shipping deemed forfeited.
bligh had judge-advocate, richard atkins, issue order john macarthur appear on matter of bond on 15 december 1807. macarthur disobeyed order , arrested , failed appear trial @ next sitting of sydney criminal court on 25 january 1808. court constituted of atkins , 6 officers of nsw corps. macarthur objected atkins being fit sit in judgement of him because debtor , inveterate enemy. atkins rejected this, macarthur s protest had support of other 6 members of court, officers of corps. without judge-advocate, trial not take place , court dissolved .
bligh accused 6 officers of amounted mutiny , summoned major george johnston come , deal matter. johnston replied ill, had wrecked gig on evening of 24th on way home annandale after dining officers of corps.
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