Episode 17

full
Published on:

26th Nov 2025

Has History Missed James Smith?

At 47 years of age , James Smith paid his fare for a passage to Botany Bay with the First Fleet. The arrangement was made with Captain Sever of the Lady Penrhyn. The Captain did not consult with Captain Arthur Philip about the arrangement.

Philip found out about Smith when the Fleet were all together in Cape Town. He was furious as it was outside the instructions he had been given.

In the end result, Smith was allowed to stay in the colony which he did until he left on HMS Gorgon in 1791.

Smith was eccentric and elusive, but he was still either the first free settler or the first paying tourist. Either way he should be recognised as such.


All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Urban Ambling

About the Podcast

Urban Ambling
Gerard Mercator was born in Flanders ( now part of Belgium ) in 1512.
It is unlikely that he ever travelled more than 100 kms from where he was born.
Despite this, he devised a projection which resulted in maps of the then known world.
The book of maps he produced was named ‘An Atlas ‘. He gave us the word. His map projection was still in use 400 years later!
We spend so much time travelling to other places that we forget there is much to see and learn in our own surroundings. There is interest and comfort in the ordinary things in our lives.
I hope these podcasts will encourage you to engage in a bit of serendipitous , and happy, ambling in your area.
Mercator.