Henry Fitzgerald - HMS SIRIUS

North American Circa 1754—1788 Died at Sea.

- this story is under review by Membership Team

Henry Fitzgerald from Halifax, Nova Scotia, was one of the more than a dozen North Americans known to have sailed with the First Fleet, and one of the two from Canada. He joined Sirius as an able seaman

aged 32 on 23 March 1787.

He died at sea on 13 December 1788, having made a will to fellow crew member James Wilson, also from North America (qv). 

SACRED

To The Memory of

Henry Fitzgerald.

The ship was rearing through the moving waters

beyond the path of whales, when Henry found his resting place at ebb tide.

The evening star did shine in full that night,

maybe in honour of Henry Fitzgerald.

(The cause of death may have been scurvy)

Information:

Founders of Australia.

M. Gillen.

Verse: J. Mortimer # 6409.