People Australia

Richard Hutchinson (1786-1830), a labourer, was found guilty on 17 August 1811 at the York Assizes, Yorkshire, of stealing a horse. His death sentence was reduced to life transportation. He arrived at Hobart, Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in Octobr 1812 aboard the Indefatigable. He was described in 1830 as being 5 feet 8 inches tall, a native of Lancashire, aged 46, and had brown hair, grey eyes and a small scar on his chin.

Hutchinson married Bridget Byrne on 12 April 1817; they had two daughters. He had a ticket of leave by 1818 and was living in Hobart. In May 1829 Hutchinson was found guilty of stealing a bullock and in October was sentenced to 7 years transportation.

With four other men he escaped on 3 September 1830. Once their provisions were exhausted, the men resorted to killing, and eating, each other. Only two — Edward Broughton and Matthew McAlboy — survived. They surrendered to authorities and were executed. Hutchinson was the first to be killed and cannibalised by the escaped convicts.