On the evening of 14 August 1829, the government brig 'Cyprus' was sheltering
in Recherche Bay on the remote south-east coast of Tasmania when she was captured by eighteen convicts
under the leadership of William Swallow, a prisoner for life. After marooning the crew, military guard
and passengers on the desolate shore, Swallow skillfully sailed the brig across the Pacific to Tahiti
then back to the Tongan Islands and on to Japan before finally scuttling her off the Chinese coast.
Warwick Hirst has written a fascinating account of a rogue whose undoubted leadership, determination and resourcefulness might, in different circumstances, have led him to a far more favourable fate.
Although going by the name of William Swallow, this resourceful chap was in fact William Warwick, who by his own account was born in 1792 in Sunderland. So no direct links we are aware of into the DNA of the Swallow family, but nevertheless for those interested in true life history it is a fascinating read.
www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Who-Stole-Cyprus-Escape/dp/1877058610
Details: Hardcover: 240 pages; Publisher: Rosenberg Publishing (12 Mar 2008, ISBN-10: 1877058610, ISBN-13: 978-1877058615
Do you have reviews of books related to Swallow family members that you can share? We would love to see them and help expand these pages. If you do please click on the Contact SRC link above and drop us an email. Please don't send the picture until we have returned you email otherwise it may get weeded out by our virus scanning software.
Copyright © 2008 Bruce Smith | All Rights Reserved
Design by Wolfgang | Modified by Bruce Smith | Swallow Resource Centre