William Bland

Dr William Bland (1789-1868) was a transported convict, medical practitioner and surgeon, politician, farmer and inventor in colonial New South Wales, Australia.

Bland was born in London 5 November 1789 the 2nd son of an obstetrician Dr. Robert Bland.

January 1809 became a surgeon 5th grade aboard HM sloop "Hesper" where at Bombay, India he was involved in a wardroom argument with Robert Case the purser; a duel was set for 7 April 1813 and Robert Case lost the duel and died. He was convicted of murder (as manslaughter) and transported to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) with a sentence of 7 years transportation, reaching Hobart Town of Tasmania aboard 'Denmark Hill' in January 1814 and Sydney aboard the 'Frederick' on 14 July 1814 where he served at Castle Hill gaol for a short period of time since he was quickly pardoned 27 October 1815.

In 1818 he wrote "pipes" (anonymous and variously insulting satires) criticising Governor Macquarie's treatment of farmers, and making fun of his desire to have his name on foundation stones; the Governor was not amused. Bland's handwriting was recognised and on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 September 1818 he was in court and convicted of libel fined £50/-/-d and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment which he served at Parramatta of New South Wales.

In 1830 he actively opposed attempts to alienate large areas of crown land, and in 1831 joined the committee of the Australian Landowners Association to fight the Ripon land regulations.

1825 his committee founded Sydney Free Grammar School; the foundation stone of a new building was laid by the chief justice in 1830 and the Sydney College opened on 19 January 1835. Bland was treasurer from 1835 to 1844 and in 1845 became president, an office he held when the buildings were sold to the University of Sydney in 1853.

In September 1834 Sir Edward Lytton Bulwer, M.P., wrote from England that the Australian situation was not well understood in London. He suggested that an organized association should be formed, and that it should appoint a parliamentary agent for New South Wales. As a result the Australian Patriotic Association was formed in 1835 by Wentworth with Bland was its “chairman of the committee of correspondence” (i.e.: Secretary)

1839-1841 Bland wrote letters for Australian Patriotic Association (emancipists) which now show the constitutional struggles towards autonomy. Bland as secretary (“chairman of the committee of correspondence”) to the Australian Patriotic Association helped draft two bills for a ‘representative constitution' which was approved in 1842 with Bland representing Sydney at its reading and approval passages

In February 1846, Bland, then a widower, married a widow, Eliza Smeathman.

1848 election defeat brought in Robert Lowe who resigned in November 1849 and Berry back for 7 months

1849 W. C. Wentworth introduced a bill into the Legislature to create the University of Sydney, naming Bland as one of its first senators, but Rob Lowe dragged up Bland’s criminal record of the 1813 duel and the bill failed Bland challenged Lowe to a duel, Lowe avoided it, but when the bill was re-introduced Bland’s name had been omitted - The bill was passed, but without the list of nominees, and the proclamation appointing the senate on 24 December 1850 did not include Bland's name.

1856 new constitution nominated and appointed to council 23 March 1858

A banquet was held in July 1856 to celebrate the grant of a new Constitution by the British government. Bland accepted an invitation to preside and received a deserved ovation. On 5 November 1858 he was given a sum of money and a candelabrum for his services to the community, Resigned 21 March 1861 but an ensuing attempt to procure an annuity for him was defeated in the Legislative Council. In 1861 he was declared a bankrupt.

Bland continued in active medical practice until 1868.

He was the subject of the first photographic portrait taken in the colony and was the founder and first president of the Australian Medical Association.

He died intestate in Sydney on 21 July 1868 of pneumonia, and was accorded a State Funeral.

An elected official in the first federal parliament, the Division of Bland, was named after him. This division was abolished in 1906.