John Andrews R. N.,
Convict Ship Surgeon-Superintendent
John Andrews was employed as Surgeon-superintendent on the voyage of two convict ships to Australia -
- The Marion in 1848. The Marion departed London 29 September 1847 and arrived in VDL 9th January 1848 and Port Phillip 25 January 1848 with 292 male Exiles. John Andrews kept a medical journal from 1st September 1847 to 5th February 1848 in which he recorded the names of children of the Guard and Exiles vaccinated as well as illnesses suffered during the voyage
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He was appointed Surgeon-superintendent on the convict ship Eliza in 1850. The Eliza departed London 24 December 1849 and arrived in Van Diemen's Land 3 April 1850 and Norfolk Island 30 April 1850......
The signatures of both medical journals are similar and are signed 'John Andrews, Surgeon, Royal Navy'. On the voyage of the Marion the front of the journal is marked 'John Andrews (a)'
John Andrews was pleased with the behaviour of the men on the voyage of Eliza, later remarking:
From Dr. Andrews, Surgeon-Superintendent of the Eliza.
Hobart Town, 16th April, 1850
'It gives me the greatest pleasure to be enable to inform you that, with the exception of J.W. one of the men from the Warrior hulk, I had not occasion to inflict any kind of punishment during the voyage. I gave the convicts during the voyage all proper indulgence, which I am glad to say was gratefully appreciated - Report on the Management of Convict Prisons
He departed Hobart on the ship Calcutta" bound for London in January 1851
Notes and Links
There are two surgeons by the name of John Andrews in the 1865 Medical Register of 1865.One gives residence R.N. Hospital, Haslar, Gosport, Hants (MRCS 1825)
The other gives residence as 'Surgeon, Royal Navy' (MRCS 1841)
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