Mr Cunningham departs Port Jackson on first voyage with Phillip Parker King aboard HMS Mermaid

22nd December 1817

Three days before Christmas: On this day, 22nd December 1817, HMS Mermaid departed southward from Port Jackson. Aboard were Phillip Parker King, the commander and his crew which included the botanist Allan Cunningham.

The ship departed Port Jackson on 22nd December 1817 and returned 29th July 1818. It was the first of four maritime journeys, commanded by Phillip Parker King, to survey the Australian Coast. 1

  1. Find out more in Heward’s Biographical Sketch of Allan Cunningham[↩]