William Balcombe

William Balcombe
The 1806 emblem of the New South Wales colony
Born 28 December 1777
Rottingdean, Sussex, England
Died 19 March 1829(1829-03-19) (aged 51)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Buried Devonshire Street Cemetery, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Allegiance

United Kingdom United Kingdom British East India Company

New South Wales Colony
Service/branch Colonial Service
Relations Wife Jane Cranston

William Balcombe (1777–1829) was an East India Company and colonial administrator. He came to fame as the father of a daughter (Betsy Balcombe) who befriended Napoleon Bonaparte[1] whilst the Balcombe family were living on Saint Helena.[2][3] The exiled Bonaparte had lodged with the Balcombes (at the Briars) whilst his permanent quarters at Longwood were being prepared.

William Balcombe spent some time in New South Wales acting as the colony's first treasurer[4] arriving on 5 April 1824 with his family and servants aboard the Hibernia.[5] He died there and is buried in Sydney in 1829 (aged 51).[6][7]

He was an interesting character who had an interesting ancestry.[8]

References

  1. "The Children of Longwood". www.napoleon-series.org. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  2. Thomson, Kathleen. "Balcombe, Alexander Beatson (1811–1877)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  3. "BBC – Radio 4 – Betsy and Napoleon". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  4. New South Wales, Australia, Record of Appointments to Government Offices, 1814–1825
  5. "SHIP NEWS". Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW: 1803 – 1842). 8 April 1824. p. 2. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  6. "William Balcombe (1779–1829) – Find A Grave Memorial". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  7. "Obituary – William Balcombe – Obituaries Australia". oa.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  8. "Chapter 1: WILLIAM BALCOMBE – A Man of mystery". Pounding along to Singapore with the 2/20th Battalion AIF. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
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