People Australia

James Meredith, captain lieutenant of marines 24th (Plymouth) Company, arrived in Sydney in January 1788 aboard the Friendship as part of the First Fleet. He had married Elizabeth Baker Harvey six months before embarking on the journey. He lived with Mary Hughes (aka Mary Johnson) from October 1789. Their son James was baptised on 9 May 1790.

Meredith left the colony with James aboard the Gorgon in December 1791. A daughter Mary born after Meredith had left the colony was baptised on 22 September 1792. Meredith and James arrived at Portsmouth, England, on 22 June 1792.

In March 1794 Meredith was promoted to brevet Major and in December he embarked on the Hannibal as Major of Marines. He served on her until the end of September 1800, mainly in the West Indies. During that six year period he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Hart’s Army List for 1841 indicates further progress through the ranks of the Royal Marines: Colonel in April 1808, Major-General in June 1811, Lieutenant General in July 1821 and General in June 1838.

James Meredith died on 9 July 1841 at Monmouth, Wales.

* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), p 244