Bern Emmerichs

No Smooth Sailing

2024

painted ceramic (fired) and seashells

60.00 x 47.00 cm

Duncan Campbell (1726-1803) was the influential lynchpin and overseer of the Thames convict prison hulks at Woolwich, and the transportation to Australia between 1776-1801. 
His niece, Elizabeth Betham was married to Captain William Bligh, who regularly sailed on Campbell’s ships to Jamaica, to assist in Campbell’s family sugar and rum estate, ‘Saltspring’.
His two ships Justitia and Censor were used as hulks. Campbell being a private contractor was subject to little regulation. Reports of bad food, hulk fever, and few religious services provided were common and cause for one in four prisoners falling gravely unwell in 1778. In 1802 his contract was not renewed. 
After which the system moved to more direct government control and continued till 1857.

$8,500.00