"On 13 May 1787 more than 1,500 people sailed with the eleven ships of the First Fleet to become the founders of the modern nation of Australia. After 20 years of research Mollie Gillen has produced the most comprehensive study to date of the people of the First Fleet. Based largely on original sources in Britain and Australia, it functions both ad a detailed historical reference work with much new information and also as a very readable social history. Every person who sailed with the First Fleet or was born on board has been included whether a child, convict, sailor, marine or officer. The result is a fascinating series of pen-pictures in a total of 1,442 biographical entries. The background of each first Fleeter is examined (including the circumstances of the crime and trial of each convict) as well as their lives after 1788 as they spread throguh New South Wales, Norfolk Island, Van Diemen's land and in some cases, returned to England ... The book includes extensive explanatory notes, is fully indexed with a number of maps, illustrations, and the facsimile signatures and marks of hundreds of First Fleeters. Twelve appendices include abstracts of biographical information, descriptions of the First Fleet ships and their crews, a chronology of the First Fleet, miscellaneous facts of interest, statistics and the "Phantom Fleeters": persons inaccurately claimed in earlier publications to be First Fleeters ..." -- Inside front cover.