Allusions/references To Actual History, Geography and Current Science
The real-life Leopard's earlier involvement in the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair gets a mention, and the book deals with the tension between the English and Americans on the eve of the War of 1812. O'Brian based the account of the near sinking of the Leopard (after striking an iceberg) on an actual event involving HMS Guardian and her commander Edward Riou in 1789. The novel contains an unflattering portrait of Lieutenant James Grant.
Captain William Bligh's Governorship of New South Wales is mentioned and his deposition. 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. As 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.
Read more about this topic: Desolation Island (novel)
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