Thomas Jamison arrived in the colony with
the
First Fleet as surgeon's mate.
He was stationed at Norfolk Island from
March 1788 until October 1799 when he was relieved by James
Mileham. In 1795 - 96 there was an outbreak of dysentery at
Norfolk Island, some cases of which he treated with success.
He later published a letter in the
Gentleman's Magazine regarding the methods he used. He
returned to Sydney in 1799 and was granted twelve months leave
and took a passage back to England.
He was appointed Surgeon-General of New
South Wales to succeed William Balmain in 1801 and embarked on
the convict ship
Atlas in 1802 for the return to Australia, however
because of a dispute with Captain Brooks disembarked at Rio de
Janeiro and continued the remainder of the voyage of the
Hercules.
He took action against
Sir Henry Browne Hayes, a convict on board the
Atlas, who resided with the master on the voyage, and
against the master himself for assault. Governor King later
wrote to the Transport Commissioners regarding the case -
having suffered considerably by his property being damaged.
H.B. Hayes was sentenced by the magistrate to six months
imprisonment for his threatening and improper conduct towards
Mr. Jamison. The Court of Vice-Admiralty and the Court of
Civili Jurisdiction, not considering the master of the Atlas
within the jurisdiction of those Courts, have declined trying
him for the assault. Mr. Jamison commenced an action of
damages against him for the recovery of the value of the goods
he had damaged in consequence of their improper stowage, also
for the losses he sustained on being obliged to leave the
Atlas at Rio Janeiro, in consequence of the ill treatment he
received and paying for his further passage in the Hercules,
remuneration of all which he craved (HRA., Vol.IV, p888
(King Papers)
Thomas Jamison was amongst those who
deposed Governor Bligh in
January 1808 and he sailed for England on the
Admiral Gambier in 1809 to be a witness for George
Johnston:
Lieutenant Colonel Johnston having
applied for the Services of Thomas Jamison, Esq., Principal
Surgeon of the Territory, and also John Harris, Esq. Surgeon
of the New South Wales Corps, the Lieutenant Governor consents
to their proceeding to England; and those Gentlemen are to
hold themselves in readiness to embark on board the Admiral
Gambier, which vessel is expected to sail in a week from this
day (SG 26 February 1809)
According to the
European Magazine Thomas Jamison died in 1811 aged 58 at
at Upper Berkeley street, Portman square.
Thomas Jamison was father of
Sir John Jamison, naval surgeon (appointed 1807) who
arrived on the
Broxbornebury in 1814
