E16: The Political Brilliance of John Macarthur

E16: The Political Brilliance of John Macarthur

From Political History of Australia by John Ruddick

February 11, 2026 · 40 min · Season 1 · Episode 16

About this episode

This episode discusses the political conflict between Governor John Hunter and Captain John Macarthur in 1796 New South Wales.

After the  John Baughan Affair  political tension returned to the small but now flourishing colony of New South Wales. It was 1796. In this increasingly tense atmosphere some regular troops at 3am stole a couple of turnips from the Governor’s garden. It was hardly a hanging offence but escalation begat escalation and soon it was a proxy war between Governor John Hunter and Captain John Macarthur as to who was the real boss.   In an extraordinary twist, the dispute ended up on the desk of the Home Secretary in London … and to Governor Hunter’s dismay, London politely sided with Macarthur.   Historians have been baffled ever since as to why a top cabinet member in London would side with a lowly captain over the King’s Governor. There was nothing sinister or manipulative about it – John Macarthur and the government of Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger were ideological allies. London simply agreed with Macarthur’s brilliantly presented case as to what the colony’s problems were and how they could be corrected. The downfall of Governor Hunter had begun…

People in this episode

Host: John Ruddick

Topics covered

  • political tension
  • colonial history
  • John Macarthur
  • Governor John Hunter
  • ideological allies
  • New South Wales

Keywords

  • John Macarthur
  • Governor John Hunter
  • political tension
  • New South Wales
  • William Pitt the Younger
  • colonial politics
  • Home Secretary

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Home Secretary

Places: New South Wales

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