Emancipist
Encyclopedia
An emancipist was any of the convict
s sentenced and transported under the convict system to Australia
, who had been given conditional or absolute pardons. The term was also used to refer to those convicts whose sentences had expired, and could also be used of free settlers who supported full civil rights for emancipated convicts.http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9032499?hook=156208
An emancipist was free to own land and was no longer subject to penal servitude. An emancipist could be released from his or her sentence for good behaviour, diligent work, or the expiration of his or her sentence. The only main limitation placed upon them was that they were not allowed to leave the Australian colonies.
The Exclusives (who included many free settlers, civil servants and military officers) often shunned the society of the Emancipists and considered them to be little more than criminals. When Governor Lachlan Macquarie
invited emancipists to social functions at Government House
, for example, many military officers refused to attend.
Macquarie (Governor from 1810 to 1821) insisted emancipated convicts be treated as social equals and, very conscious of the critical shortage of skills in the young colony, appointed emancipists with talent to official positions. Some of these appointments included Francis Greenway
as colonial architect and Dr William Redfern
as colonial surgeon. He scandalised settler opinion by appointing another emancipist, Andrew Thompson, as a magistrate.
John Hamilton Irving (or Irven, Irwin, or Ervin) was Australia's first emancipist. Irving was a surgeon
convicted of larceny
on 6 March 1784. He was sentenced to "seven years beyond the seas," and was sent on one of the First Fleet
transport. After exhibiting a willing readiness to assist with his exceptional surgical skills, he was emancipated by Governor Arthur Phillip
on 28 February 1790, and worked thereafter as an assistant surgeon. On 14 July 1792, Irving's Warrant
of Emancipation was received in England and acknowledged by Henry Dundas
, the Secretary of State.http://www.personal.usyd.edu.au/~rcowan/genealogy/JohnIrving.htm
Convict
A convict is "a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court" or "a person serving a sentence in prison", sometimes referred to in slang as simply a "con". Convicts are often called prisoners or inmates. Persons convicted and sentenced to non-custodial sentences often are not termed...
s sentenced and transported under the convict system to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, who had been given conditional or absolute pardons. The term was also used to refer to those convicts whose sentences had expired, and could also be used of free settlers who supported full civil rights for emancipated convicts.http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9032499?hook=156208
An emancipist was free to own land and was no longer subject to penal servitude. An emancipist could be released from his or her sentence for good behaviour, diligent work, or the expiration of his or her sentence. The only main limitation placed upon them was that they were not allowed to leave the Australian colonies.
The Exclusives (who included many free settlers, civil servants and military officers) often shunned the society of the Emancipists and considered them to be little more than criminals. When Governor Lachlan Macquarie
Lachlan Macquarie
Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB , was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony...
invited emancipists to social functions at Government House
Government House, Sydney
Government House is located in Sydney, Australia alongside the Royal Botanic Gardens, overlooking Sydney Harbour, just south of the Sydney Opera House...
, for example, many military officers refused to attend.
Macquarie (Governor from 1810 to 1821) insisted emancipated convicts be treated as social equals and, very conscious of the critical shortage of skills in the young colony, appointed emancipists with talent to official positions. Some of these appointments included Francis Greenway
Francis Greenway
-References:* *...
as colonial architect and Dr William Redfern
William Redfern
William Redfern was a leading surgeon in early colonial New South Wales.-Early life:Redfern appears to have been born in Canada and raised in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England...
as colonial surgeon. He scandalised settler opinion by appointing another emancipist, Andrew Thompson, as a magistrate.
John Hamilton Irving (or Irven, Irwin, or Ervin) was Australia's first emancipist. Irving was a surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
convicted of larceny
Larceny
Larceny is a crime involving the wrongful acquisition of the personal property of another person. It was an offence under the common law of England and became an offence in jurisdictions which incorporated the common law of England into their own law. It has been abolished in England and Wales,...
on 6 March 1784. He was sentenced to "seven years beyond the seas," and was sent on one of the First Fleet
First Fleet
The First Fleet is the name given to the eleven ships which sailed from Great Britain on 13 May 1787 with about 1,487 people, including 778 convicts , to establish the first European colony in Australia, in the region which Captain Cook had named New South Wales. The fleet was led by Captain ...
transport. After exhibiting a willing readiness to assist with his exceptional surgical skills, he was emancipated by Governor Arthur Phillip
Arthur Phillip
Admiral Arthur Phillip RN was a British admiral and colonial administrator. Phillip was appointed Governor of New South Wales, the first European colony on the Australian continent, and was the founder of the settlement which is now the city of Sydney.-Early life and naval career:Arthur Phillip...
on 28 February 1790, and worked thereafter as an assistant surgeon. On 14 July 1792, Irving's Warrant
Writ
In common law, a writ is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court...
of Emancipation was received in England and acknowledged by Henry Dundas
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville PC and Baron Dunira was a Scottish lawyer and politician. He was the first Secretary of State for War and the last person to be impeached in the United Kingdom....
, the Secretary of State.http://www.personal.usyd.edu.au/~rcowan/genealogy/JohnIrving.htm