Cyprus mutiny Cyprus mutiny The "Cyprus" mutiny took place in 1829 off the British penal settlement of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania, Australia). Convicts seized the brig and sailed her to Canton, China, where they scuttled her and claimed to be castaways from another vessel. On the way, "Cyprus" visited Japan during the height of the period of severe Japanese restrictions on the entry of foreigners, the first Australian ship to do so. The mutineers were eventually captured. Two of them, George James Davis and William Watts, were hanged at Execution Dock, London on 16 December 1830, the last men hanged for
George Davis (Australian politician) George Davis (Australian politician) George Davis (1833 – 25 August 1896) was a politician in colonial Victoria (Australia), and Minister of Defence. Davis was born in Worcestershire, England, the son of William Davis, a carpet manufacturer, and Parthenia, "née" Potter. George emigrated to Victoria around 1850, and took a prominent part in municipal affairs in Emerald Hill, (later renamed South Melbourne), one of the suburbs of Melbourne. Subsequently he removed to Gippsland and embraced pastoral pursuits, taking a keen interest in horse-breeding and racing. Davis was president of the Victorian Farmers' Union. Having unsuccessfully contested the Electoral district of North