George Arthur

“	If it should be apparent that there is a determination on the part of one or more of the native tribes to attack, rob, or murder the white inhabitants generally, any person may arm, and joining themselves to the military, drive them by force to a safe distance, treating them as open enemies.	„
	~ George Arthur

George Arthur (June 21, 1784 - September 19, 1854) was lieutenant-governor of the Australian penal colony of Van Diemen's Land (now known as Tasmania). During his term in office, he declared martial law against the aboriginal people living on the island, which led to a genocidal campaign known as the Black War.

Biography

In 1823, Arthur was appointed lieutenant-governor of the penal colony of Van Diemen's Land in Australia and arrived with his family a year later, where he took office in May 14th. Arthur decided that an isthmus in the Tasman peninsula is an ideal place for a convict settlement and established a prison called Port Arthur, where he executed 260 prisoners.

When the aboriginal people living on the island began attacking settlements due to violence and displacement by colonists, Governor Arthur decided to declare martial law in order to protect the settlers, which allowed every colonist to hunt down any aborigine as wild beasts. Governor Arthur then came up with a plan to segregate the aborigines on the Tasman peninsula to prevent any more attacks on white settlers, a system known as the "Black Line". However, this proved to be a failure, as the colonists guarding the aborigines were forced to leave due to severe weather conditions.

Governor Arthur then presented a proclamation called "Governor Davey's Proclamation". Although the proclamation was made in 1815 and was named after Arthur's predecessor, Thomas Davey, the board was authorized by Arthur. The proclamation promised peace and equality between the two races as well as claiming that anyone who commits violence on both sides will suffer the same punishment. Despite the proclamation, no colonist was ever held accountable for the atrocities committed against aboriginal people.

Governor Arthur then hired a government agent named George Augustus Robinson to bring peace between the colonists and the aborigines. When Robinson managed to peacefully relocate the aborigines to Flinders Island, martial law was revoked. However, many of the aborigines died from disease and the aboriginal race was thought to have been extinct, although many of the survivors intermarried with the British colonists.

Trivia

• After the Black War, George Arthur regretted his decision of not signing a treaty with the aborigines of Tasmania and recommended to the Colonial Office that there should be a negotiation with the aboriginal people in South Australia to prevent a war.