Portrait of Il Netunno, later Marquis Cornwallis, under sail | State Library of New South Wales

Portrait of Il Netunno, later Marquis Cornwallis, under sail

Portrait of Il Netunno, later Marquis Cornwallis, under sail, 1793
François Balthazar Solvyns
Oil on panel
ML 1353

The Marquis Cornwallis left Ireland on 9 August 1795 with over 240 convicts on board, bound for New South Wales. It was the start of an eventful voyage. One month later, as the ship neared Cape Verde Islands, Captain Michael Hogan learned of a plot to seize the ship. He acted swiftly. Between 40 and 50 convicts were flogged and two guards were imprisoned. The plotters retaliated by strangling an informer. A week later, there was a second mutiny attempt - seven convicts and one of the guards died of wounds received in the attack.

The ship reached Sydney on 11 February 1796. Three months later it left to return to England. At Norfolk Island, the vessel took on four guns and 140 rounds of shot from the wreck of the Sirius to defend itself against possible attack by pirates or French naval vessels.

Display period: January – December 2007