Rum Rebellion Rum Rebellion The Rum Rebellion of 1808 was the only successful armed takeover of government in Australian history. During the 19th century, it was widely referred to as "the Great Rebellion". On 26 January 1808, 20 years to the day after Arthur Phillip founded the first European settlement in Australia, the New South Wales Corps under the command of Major George Johnston, working closely with John Macarthur, deposed the Governor of New South Wales, William Bligh. Afterwards, the military ruled the colony, with the senior military officer stationed in Sydney acting as the lieutenant-governor of New South Wales until the
1808: The Flight of the Emperor 1808: The Flight of the Emperor 1808: The Flight of the Emperor, subtitled "How a Weak Prince, a Mad Queen, and the British Navy Tricked Napoleon and Changed the New World" (, which translates as "How a mad queen, a coward prince and a corrupt court fooled Napoleon and changed the History of Portugal and Brazil") is a non-fiction historical book written by Laurentino Gomes, edited by Planeta. In 2008, the book was awarded as the best essay book by Academia Brasileira de Letras. It was also awarded twice a Prêmio Jabuti, at the categories "best reportage-book" and "non-fiction book