Lot 700

Description

Bank of Van Diemen's Land, cheques (2), dated 16th June 1829 for Å‣45-0-0 and 15th Nov 1833 for Å‣12-9-4, both signed by James Kelly. Very fine. (2)

James Kelly (1791-1859) sealer, pilot, harbourmaster and regarded as the `father and founder' of whaling in Tasmania. Born in Parramatta, December 1791, he was apprenticed in January 1804 to Kable & Underwood to learn the art of a Master Mariner. Completing his apprenticeship in 1809 he travelled extensively including trips to India in 1810, and sealing ventures to Macquarie Island. Moving to Hobart Town in 1815, he set out in a whale-boat to circumnavigate Van Diemen's Land and along the way discovered Port Davey and Macquarie Harbour. In 1817 he sailed to New Zealand where, although initially welcomed by the Maoris was attacked the next day and three of his men killed. Governor Lachlan Macquarie, in May 1819, confirmed Kelly's appointment as pilot and harbourmaster at the Derwent. He assisted in transporting convicts to the penal station at Macquarie Harbour and helped to set up the penal station on Maria Island. Giving up his position of harbourmaster in 1829 he concentrated on whaling and his other business interests. He assisted in forming the Derwent Whaling Club in 1826, was elected one of the first directors of the Derwent and Tamar Fire, Marine and Life Assurance Co and was on the committee of the Anniversary Regatta. Kelly suffered personal and shipping losses in the 1830s and hit by the depression of the 1840s was forced to assign his property to creditors. He went back to work with the port authorities. He died suddenly in Hobart on 20th April 1859.