William Hobson - Early Life

Early Life

William Hobson was born in Waterford, Ireland, the son of Samuel Hobson, a barrister. Some sources put his year of birth in 1793. He joined the Royal Navy on 25 August 1803 as a second-class volunteer. He served in the Napoleonic wars and was later involved in the suppression of piracy in the Caribbean. He became a Midshipman in 1806 and some seven years later was a First Lieutenant. He was promoted to Commander in May 1824. In December 1834 he obtained a commission from Lord Auckland to the East Indies on HMS Rattlesnake.

In 1836 he was ordered to Australia and arrived at Hobart on 5 August 1836 and at Sydney 18 days later. On 18 September 1836 HMS Rattlesnake left for Port Phillip District (later Melbourne) conveying Captain Lonsdale and other officials to the new colony. During the next three months Hobson and his officers thoroughly surveyed Port Phillip, the northern portion of which, by direction of Governor Sir Richard Bourke, was named Hobson's Bay, after Hobson. His ship was involved in the founding of Williamstown. He was offered the position of Superintendent of the Bombay Marine at a salary of £2000 a year, but he had taken a liking to Australia and was a candidate for the governorship of Port Phillip, although the salary was not expected to be more than £800 a year.