alternatehistory.com

As Australia day (Jan 26th) staggers up on us again it is a good time to remember it is 200 years ago since the only succesfull overthrough of a government in Australia by armed forces took place. For two years the NSW Corps ruled the colony in what would now days be called a military Junta, but would happen if they had decided to stay in power. Would Britain busy fighting Napoleon in Europe be bothered with a convict colony with nothing worth exporting on the far side of the globe. Could the rebel corp get support from other countries to trade with or the would British just boycott supplies and starve them into submission?

The Rum Rebellion, also known as the Rum Puncheon Rebellion, of 1808 was the only successful armed takeover of government in Australia's recorded history. The Governor of New South Wales, William Bligh, was deposed by the New South Wales Corps under the command of Major George Johnston, working closely with John Macarthur, on 26 January 1808. Afterwards, acting governors were sworn in until the arrival from Britain of Major-General Lachlan Macquarie at the beginning of 1810.
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