Free Settler or Felon
Convict and Colonial History




Andrew Millar R. N.,

Convict Ship Surgeon-Superintendent


Date of Seniority Royal Navy 31 July 1833

Qualifications

Andrew Millar was one of 117 Graduates in Medicine at the University of Edinburgh on 1st August 1836 (Erysipelas).[1]

Naval Appointment

Andrew Millar was on the List of Surgeons of the Royal Navy who were fit for active service in 1841. He was appointed to H.M.S. Carysfort, Captain H. Byam Martin, in the Mediterranean. H.M.S. Carysford was built at Bombay in 1836 and was of 925 tons. 152 officers and men, 33 boys and 25 marines were on board. [6]

Surgeon Superintendent

Andrew Millar M.D. was employed as surgeon superintendent on the Anson to Van Diemen's Land in 1843. He kept a Medical Journal dated 7 July 1843 to 24 April 1844.

HMS Anson departed Plymouth 1 October 1843 with 506 male prisoners. Passenger Captain Cocknaft with soldiers women and children. In all 830 people.

This was the largest number of convicts to have arrived in one ship and the Anson caused quite some interest on her arrival on 4th February 1844.......

Our splendid wharfs were crowded with promenaders on Sunday afternoon, to obtain a sight of H.M.S. Anson, once a 72 line of battle ship, and which has often carried the thunder of Britain amongst her foes. How different now her destiny! - employed as a receptacle for those degenerate Englishmen who have been spurned from the bosom of society. By this arrival 500 men have been added to our convict population.

The Anson is the largest vessel which has ever been in our harbour, and is commanded by Captain Coghlan, half brother as we understand to Mr. Driscoll, the respected Manager of the Colonial Bank. With prisoners, guard, crew and passengers , she has nearly a thousand souls on board. Mr. Forster a son of the A.P.M. of Brighton acted as chaplain on the voyage out. The Anson is an old vessel and masted with the spars of one of the old 42's her own spars being too heavy for a merchant crew to handle properly. She left Plymouth on the 1st October, and put into Rio Janeiro, where she remained 14 days.

The Anson is to be employed as a hulk for the reception of female probationers. The Troops on board consisted of part of the 51st, 58th 96th and 99th regiments
. [2]

Royal Marine Infirmary Plymouth 1848

Andrew Millar M.D., was appointed Staff-Surgeon at the Royal Marine Infirmary Plymouth 12 August 1848 [3]

Death

He died on 4 April 1861[4]

The Personal estate and effects of Andrew Millar late of East Stone house, Co. Devon, Surgeon in the Plymouth Division of Her Majesty's Royal Marine Forces, died 4 April 1861 at East Stone house were granted at Exeter to Anna Maria Millar of Parish of Plympton Maurice, widow of the deceased. [5]

Notes and Links

1). Public Health and Politics in the Age of Reform: Cholera, the State and the Royal Navy in Victorian Britain ... By David Mclean

References

[1] The London Medical and Surgical Journal: Volume 8, 1836

[2] Cornwall Chronicle 7 February 1844

[3] The Navy List

[4] Lancet 13 July 1861

[5] Ancestry.com. England and Wales, National Probate Calendar. Original data: Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England

[6] Haultain, C. (compiled), The New Navy List, 1840, p. 198