E20: The Court Martial of John Macarthur

In September 1801, Captain John Macarthur of the NSW Corps was challenged to a duel by his commanding officer. Macarthur declined the challenge but his opponent was insistent and so the duel proceeded. Macarthur shot and badly wounded his commanding officer. Governor King soon arrived on the scene and Macarthur was arrested. Governor King had already been in a vicious spat with Macarthur and so King relished this opportunity to banish Macarthur by sending him to England for court martial.

Macarthur may have been facing a gaol term … but on his way to England, John Macarthur had a succession of lucky breaks. In England, Macarthur didn’t need to rely on luck - his brilliance convinced important statesmen that rather than goal, this Macarthur fellow should be given the largest land grant to date in NSW.

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The Hon. John Ruddick MLC is a member of the NSW Legislative Council. 

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