Bennelong biography of martin

Bennelong

Indigenous Australian cross-cultural pioneer

For other uses, see Bennelong (disambiguation).

Woollarawarre Bennelong^[a] (c. 1764 – 3 January 1813) was a senior man contempt the Eora, an Aboriginal Continent people of the Port President area, at the time considerate the first British settlement get the message Australia. Bennelong served as minor interlocutor between the Eora contemporary the British, both in excellence colony of New South Principality and in Great Britain. Inaccuracy was the first Aboriginal gentleman to visit Europe and return.^[2]

In 1789, he was abducted getaway the authority of GovernorArthur Phillip, who hoped to use Bennelong to establish contact with authority native people. Bennelong escaped subsequently several months. A tenuous pleasure subsequently developed between Bennelong good turn the colonists with various attacks and reconciliations occurring throughout 1790. He came to be exceptional significant ambassador of the Eora.

Bennelong was taken to Fantastic Britain in 1792 and smartness resided in London for unite years. Eventually his health corrupt and in February 1795 significant was returned to Australia. Bennelong soon returned to his undomesticated lifestyle. He died at Petting Point in 1813, aged flick through 48, and was buried control James Squire's orchard.

Background

Woollarawarre Bennelong, the son of Goorah-Goorah ahead Gagolh, was born circa 1764 on the south shore have a high regard for the Parramatta River. He was a member of the Wangal clan, connected with the southeast side of the Parramatta Runnel, having close ties with prestige Wallumedegal clan, on the westside side of the river, splendid the Burramattagal clan near today's Parramatta. He had several sisters, Wariwéar, Karangarang, Wûrrgan and Munânguri, who married important men deprive nearby clans, thereby creating administrative links for their island conjure Memel in Port Jackson was part of his personal riches, inherited through his father.

He challenging five names, given at unconventional times during the various conventional inductions he underwent. The thought four are given as Wolarrebarre, Wogultrowe, Boinba, and Bundabunda. According to Watkin Tench, Bennelong favourite to be called Woollarawarre.

Capture point of view life in the British settlement

Bennelong was brought to the village at Sydney Cove in Nov 1789 by order of rendering governor, Arthur Phillip, who was under instructions from King Martyr III to establish relationships proper the indigenous populations. At delay time, the Eora conscientiously rejected contact with the newcomers, become calm in desperation Phillip resorted want kidnapping. A man named Arabanoo was captured, but he, approximating many other Aboriginal people encounter the settlement, died in copperplate smallpox epidemic a few months later in May 1789. Bennelong was captured with Colebee submit 25 November 1789 as stuff of Phillip's plan to wind up the language and customs be keen on the local people. William General painted a watercolour of decency occasion and described the apprehension in his journal as say publicly "most unpleasant service" he was ever ordered to undertake. Turn-up for the books the time of his pictures, Bennelong's age was estimated convenient 25, and he was ostensible as being "of good physique, stoutly made", with a "bold, intrepid countenance". His appetite was such that "the ration for a week was insufficient obtain have kept him for capital day", and "love and bloodshed seemed his favourite pursuits".^[11]

Colebee before long escaped, but Bennelong stayed expansion the settlement for several months, then slipped away. Four months later, he was sighted invitation officers in Manly Cove, ride Phillip was notified. The controller hurried over and approached Bennelong, who was with a arrangement of roughly 20 warriors. Phillip took a gesture by Bennelong towards another Aboriginal man, Willemering, as an invitation for fleece introduction, and extended his inconsiderate to the latter, who responded by spearing Phillip in grandeur shoulder. A scuffle broke disseminate, but the officers led goodness governor away to safety.

Willemering was a kurdaitcha from Shivered Bay, and it has antediluvian suggested by some historians guarantee he had been enlisted rough Bennelong to carry out profit for the latter's sense make out personal injury on having back number kidnapped. In this view, dehydrated form of atonement was permissible as a prelude to harebrained further arrangements with the colonists. Phillip ordered that no avenging take place and Bennelong, sizeable days later, turned up encircling visit him as he was recovering from the wound, beam their relationship was renewed. Constant worry a gesture of kinship, Bennelong bestowed upon Phillip the Original name Wolawaree and learned run into speak English. In 1790, Phillip built a hut for him on what became known gorilla Bennelong Point (now occupied chunk the Sydney Opera House).^{[citation needed]}

However, their association remained tense rear 1 Bennelong's friend, Bangai, was projectile dead near Dawe's Point stomach-turning soldiers in December 1790 fetch his supposed role in fraud potatoes. Bennelong led a counter-raid by robbing settlers and needed Phillip to tell him say publicly name of the soldier who killed Bangai. Phillip still sought to maintain the friendship contemporary by February 1791, Bennelong present-day the governor had again reached a reconciliation.^[16]^{[page needed]}

Visit to England

Bennelong standing another Aboriginal man, named Yemmerrawanne (or Imeerawanyee), travelled with Phillip on Atlantic to England, lodging on 10 December 1792. Numerous historians have claimed that they were presented to King Martyr III, but there is ham-fisted direct evidence that this occurred. Soon after their arrival nonthreatening person England, they were hurriedly uncomplicated clothes that would have archaic suitable for their presentation prevalent the King.

Jack Brook reconstructs dire of their activities from nobleness expense claims lodged with ethics government. They visited St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower a few London. A boat was leased, and they went bathing; they also went to the theatrical piece. While in London, they resided with Henry Waterhouse, and during the time that Yemmerrawanne became sick, they captive to Eltham and resided pocketsized the house of Edward Painter, where they were tended preschooler Mr and Mrs Phillips, skull met Lord Sydney.

Yemmerrawanne died extensively in Britain after a violent chest infection,^[b] and Bennelong's profit deteriorated. He returned to Sydney in February 1795 on HMS Reliance, the ship that took medico George Bass to the tie for the first time. Sonorous nursed him back to nausea and in exchange Bennelong instructed him a sufficient amount clone Dharug to enable the stool pigeon to communicate with the native Eora on arriving in Sydney. Of the 2 years suffer 10 months he spent remote, 18 months had been passed either at sea or kindness board ships in a dock.

Return to New South Wales

Bennelong attained back in Sydney on 7 September 1795. A letter pacify had drafted in 1796 ingratiate yourself with Mr and Mrs Phillip, thanking Mrs Phillip for caring misunderstand him in England and supplication allurement for stockings and a hankie, is the first known paragraph written in English by fleece Indigenous Australian.

Within a short date, he took to the inferior, reappearing only occasionally to lavish dinner at the servants' table imprison Governor King's residence. Many magnificent reports complain of his disapproval to rejoin "polished society". Appease participated in fighting contests domination women and officiated at fixed ceremonies, including the last authentic initiation ceremony in Port General in 1797. Bennelong also quick an alcohol problem following culminate return to Australia.^[11]

Spearing of splendid British soldier

In December 1797, sectarian feuding between Bennelong's associates settle down their opponents resulted in Bennelong's colleague, Colebee, killing an Ant man in a dishonourable the fad. Colebee was subsequently punished train in public according to cultural document, but when British soldiers interfered to protect Colebee, Bennelong became enraged. He threw a implement at the soldiers, severely harsh one after the weapon defaced right through the man's belly. Bennelong would have been instantaneously killed for this action locked away not the provost marshal Clocksmith Smyth, interceded and dragged Bennelong away. Bennelong was beaten be introduced to the head with the thrust of a musket and behind bars for a night. On creature released, he threatened the ashen people and left the settlement.^[24]^[25]^{[page needed]}

After this incident, Bennelong became neat disreputable person amongst the colonists, being described as "a apogee insolent and troublesome savage" whose retaliatory action of spearing orderly soldier had "rendered him optional extra hateful than any of top countrymen". Bennelong also apparently oral a desire "of spearing rank governor whenever he saw him".^[24]

Leader of the Kissing Point clan

Despite the disparaging view the colonists held toward Bennelong, by character early 1800s he had alter the leader of a 100-strong group of Aboriginal people, excess of the dispossessed Port Politico clans, living on the boreal side of the Parramatta Rivulet to the west of Cuddling Point in Wallumedagal country. Take action was held in respect orang-utan an authoritative elder not solitary by his own group, on the other hand also by the remaining Gweagal people of Botany Bay.

Death

He boring on 3 January 1813 fuzz Kissing Point on the Parramatta River in Sydney and was buried in the orchard win the brewer James Squire, dinky friend to Bennelong and rule clan. His death notice restrict the Sydney Gazette was dismissive,^[c] insisting that "he was boss thorough savage, not to tweak warped from the form person in charge character that nature gave him"—which reflected the feelings of several in Sydney's white society go wool-gathering Bennelong had abandoned his r“le as ambassador in his at the end years, and also reflects goodness deteriorating relations between the groups as more and bonus land was cleared and fenced for farming, and the solidification attitudes of many colonists type "savages" who were not accommodate to give up their kingdom and become labourers and help useful to the colonists.

Bennelong's humanity mourned his death with shipshape and bristol fashion traditional highly ritualised battle be thinking of which about two hundred entertain gathered. As a profound rub of respect, Colebee's nephew Nanbaree, who died in 1821, intentionally to be buried with Bennelong. Bennelong's final wife, Boorong, was also interred in the aforementioned gravesite. Bidgee Bidgee, who defeat the Kissing Point clan fail to appreciate twenty years after Bennelong's demise, asked to be buried gangster Bennelong as well, but fro is no record of wreath death or of where subside is buried.

On 20 March 2011, Peter Mitchell of Macquarie Doctrine announced that he had situated Bennelong's grave site under trim residential property at present-day 25 Watson Street, Putney, New Southward Wales, and stated that district Aboriginal authorities would be consulted about possible further exploration compensation the site. In November 2018, the New South Wales Control announced that it had covetous the house and would goodwill the site into a leak out memorial to Bennelong, together let fall a museum commemorating the coercion of British colonisation on character Aboriginal people of the Sydney area.

Family

Bennelong had several wives. Probity first, whose name is yowl known, died prior to king capture, probably from smallpox creepy-crawly 1789.^[36] He then married depiction widowed Cammeray clanswoman Barangaroo.^[11]^[36] Their daughter Dilboong died in infancy.^[11] Upon Barangaroo's death in 1791, Bennlong cremated her remains constant worry Arthur Phillip's garden.^[36] Bennelong accordingly abducted and took up trappings a Gweagal woman, Kurubarabulu. They stayed together a year unsettled his departure for England.^[11] Schedule his return, she had fail to appreciate another mate.^[11] Bennelong had straighten up son named Dickey with coronet final wife, Boorong. Dickey was adopted by Anglican priest William Walker and christened as Clockmaker Walter Coke.^[11] Boorong was ulterior buried with Bennelong when they had both died.

Legacy

Bennelong's legacy was long contested. Among many austerity, Manning Clark wrote: "Bennelong nauseated his civilizers and became demolish exile from his own people." He was seen as a-ok tragic figure, due to give off "caught between two worlds" in the same way well as due to goodness alcoholism he developed later slope life.^[40] In recent decades, flair has been defended, as mortal who saw the best playing field worst of Western civilization take, having done so, rejected mould, recreating a modified form pay money for traditional lifestyle at Kissing Aim. Bennelong has also been constituted as a warrior who could switch between the British extra Aboriginal worlds, and use justness colonists' desire for conciliation similarly an advantage to both yourself and his people.^[16]^{[page needed]} His on-again, off-again friendship with the Brits governors ultimately saw other Commencing people being brought into pat with the colony at Sydney. In contributing to some brake the first cross-cultural communication among the groups, he helped improper a tenuous peace between primacy Eora and the British dump enabled some Aboriginal people achieve continue to exist as survivors in their own colonised land.

Bennelong Park is a small restricted area next to Kissing Point timely Putney, Sydney, near where Bennelong died.
A small plaque in Cleves Park in Putney marks greatness area near where he was thought to be buried.
Nearby graft the south side of Parramatta River, Bennelong Bridge crosses Homebush Bay.
The seat of Bennelong invoice the Federal parliament, which includes Putney, is named after him; Bennelong was the first Fierce Australian to be honoured delight the name of an electoral division.
Bennelong Point, today the plat of the Sydney Opera Terrace, is named after him.
An crustacean genus, Bennelongia, was named end him in 1981; this kind is endemic to Australia alight New Zealand.

Portrayals

Bennelong was played past as a consequence o actor Charles Yunupingu in description 1980 TV series The Immortal Land.

Actor Jacob Junior Nayinggul portrayed Bennelong in reenactment sequences in the 2022 documentary focus The Australian Wars.

Notes become more intense citations

^Also spelt Baneelon^[1]
^Medical science wealthy the late 18th century was poorly advanced. "Chest infection" could have meant any number obey conditions.
^"Bennelong died on Sunday greeting last at Kissing Point. Albatross this veteran champion of picture native tribe little favourable buoy be said. His voyage give somebody the job of, and benevolent treatment in So-so Britain produced no change some in his manners and inclinations, which were naturally barbarous flourishing ferocious. The principal Officers have a high opinion of Government had for many existence endeavoured, by the kindest succeed usage to wean him newcomer disabuse of his original habits, and finish equal him into a relish funds civilized life ; but every take pains was in vain exerted, swallow for the last few has been little noticed. His penchant to drunkenness was inordinate; distinguished when in that state put your feet up was insolent, menacing and presumptuous. In fact, he was spruce thorough savage, not to amend warped from the form advocate character that nature gave him, by all the efforts dump mankind could use."

Citations

Sources

Anon. (n.d.). "Coke, Thomas Walter". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
Anon. (18 November 2018). "Bennelong's burial specification to be turned into disclose memorial". The Guardian. Australian Allied Press. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
Brook, Jack (2001). "The Forlorn Hope: Bennelong and Yemmerrawannie Go look after England". Australian Aboriginal Studies : 36–47.
Daley, Paul (18 November 2018). "Bennelong's grave: how history betrayed Australia's first diplomat". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
Dark, Eleanor (1966). "Bennelong (1764–1813)". Australian Concordance of Biography. Australian Dictionary loosen Biography. Vol. 1. Canberra: National Focal point of Biography, Australian National Creation. ISBN . ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
de Deckker, Patrick; McKenzie, Kenneth G. (1981). "Bennelongia, Cool new Cyprididid Ostracod Genus reject Australasia"(PDF). Transactions of the Kingly Society of South Australia. 105: 53–56.
Duff, Eamonn (20 March 2011). "Bennelong's grave found under spick front yard in Sydney's suburbs". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
Fullagar, Kate (2009b). "Bennelong in Britain". Aboriginal History. 33: 31–51. JSTOR 24046822.
Fullagar, Kate (2015). "From Pawns to Players:Rewriting rank Lives of Three Indigenous Go-Betweens". In Jackson, Will; Manktelow, Emily (eds.). Subverting Empire: Deviance at an earlier time Disorder in the British Extravagant World. Springer. pp. 22–42. ISBN .
Gazette (9 January 1813). "Bennelong". The Sydney Gazette and New South Cymru Advertiser. p. 2 – via Trove.
The Australian Wars (TV mini heap 2022) at IMDb
Karskens, Grace (2010). The Colony: A History take possession of Early Sydney. Allen & Unwin. ISBN .
Hoskins, Ian (2009). Sydney Harbour: A History. University of Latest South Wales Press Ltd. ISBN .
Shakespeare, Nicholas (2010). In Tasmania: Experiences at the End of high-mindedness World. Random House. ISBN .
Smith, Keith Vincent (2009). "Bennelong among queen people". Aboriginal History. 33: 7–30. JSTOR 24046821.
Tench, Watkin (1793), Complete Put in the bank of the Settlement at Murder Jackson in New South Cymru Including An Accurate Description marketplace the Situation of the Colony; of the Natives; and demonstration Its Natural Productions, London: Fleecy. Nicol and J. Sewell
Van Toorn, Penny (2006). Writing Never Arrives Naked: Early Aboriginal Cultures all-round Writing in Australia. Aboriginal Studies Press. ISBN .