George Caley autographed letters signed to Governor King, 22 February 1803, from Parramatta, New South Wales, requesting boxes for the despatch of plants to England

MLMSS 5600

fonds

1803

918253

Microfilm : CY 2702, frames 1-9

1 folder of textual material

Born in Yorkshire George Caley 1770-1829 begun life as a stable boy. He developed an interest in botany at an early age and with assistance from Sir Joseph Banks obtained a post as a gardener at Chelsea and Kew. Caley took up Bank's offer of employment as a botanical collector in New South Wales. For 15 shillings a week and provisions on the public account he would supply Banks with specimens and seeds for Kew Gardens. He arrived at Port Jackson in April 1800 with Lieutenant Governor King the replacement for Governor Hunter. He was given lodgings at Parramatta and the use of Government House to dry his specimens. Resources were in short supply, however, and Caley wrote to Banks of his difficulties and grievances. For ten years he devoted himself to botanical and zoological pursuits and to exploration of the colony. He sent large quantities of seeds, dried specimens and living plants to Banks together with hundreds of pages of description, maps, sketches, accounts of voyages and journeys and reports on colonial affairs. He left Sydney on 12 May 1810 in the Hindostan with Bligh, prepared to be a witness at the court martial of Colonel Johnston

Information transferred from Manuscripts Leaf Catalogue No. 1 (4-233C) as part of the eRecords Project, 2010-2011