James Carmichael R. N.,
Convict Ship Surgeon-Superintendent
James Carmichael - 'Residence Staff Surgeon, Royal Navy, 50 Torrington Square London. Qualifications M.D. University Glasgow 1843 Member Royal College Physicians London 1860' - Medical Registry, 1865.
Naval Service
James Carmichael as appointed Surgeon to H.M.S. Tyne (Mediterranean) on 21 September 1837. H.M.S. Tyne was built at Woolwich in 1826, 600 tons; 102 officers and men, 33 boys and 25 marines were employed on board. Captain John Townshend. Assistant Surgeon Andrew Murray. [1]Surgeon Superintendent
He was employed as Surgeon-Superintendent on the convict ship Samuel Boddington to Van Diemen s Land in 1846. He kept a medical journal on the voyage from 25 August 1845 to 22 January 1846 -I beg leave to state that the whole of the military guard with their wives and children and all the convicts with the exception of a few entered upon the sick list enjoyed most excellent health during the period they were embarked on board the Samuel Boddington for the voyage to Hobart Town......
Despite this report about 10 of the prisoners began to show symptoms of scurvy by December
- I was induced to require that the ship should be put into the Cape of Good Hope which was complied with on the 7th December after having been 72 days at sea...
The Samuel Boddington arrived in Hobart 18 January 1846 with 143 male prisoners. There were no deaths on the voyage out.
Notes and Links
1). National Archives. Reference: ADM 101/66/4 Description: Medical journal of Samuel Boddington, male convict ship, from 25 August 1845 to 22 January 1846 by James Carmichael, surgeon superintendent, during which time the ship was employed in sailing to Hobart Town, Van Diemen s LandReferences
[1] Haultain, C. (compiled), The New Navy List, 1840, p. 226↑