Sir Richard Bourke | |
|---|---|
 Bourke by Martin Archer Shee (c. 1837–1850) | |
| 8th Governor of New South Wales | |
| In office 3 December 1831 – 5 December 1837 | |
| Monarchs | William IV Victoria |
| Preceded by | Sir Ralph Darling |
| Succeeded by | George Gipps |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 May 1777[1] Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 12 August 1855 (aged 78)[1] County Limerick, Ireland |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Jane Bourke |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
General Sir Richard Bourke, KCB (4 May 1777 – 12 August 1855) was an Irish soldier, who served in the British Army and was Governor of New South Wales from 1831 to 1837. As a lifelong Whig (Liberal), he encouraged the emancipation of convicts and helped bring forward the ending of penal transportation to Australia. In this, he faced strong opposition from the landlord establishment and its press. He approved a new settlement on the Yarra River, and named it Melbourne, in honour of the incumbent British prime minister, Lord Melbourne.
- ^ a b "ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. THE LATE SIR R. BOURKE, K.C.B." The Argus (Melbourne). No. 2637. Victoria, Australia. 4 December 1855. p. 6. Retrieved 24 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.