{"product_id":"1788-by-watkin-tench-text-classics","title":"1788 by Watkin Tench (Text Classics)","description":"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e.cs97DFFCB{12pt;font-weight:normal;color:#000000;font-style:normal;Times New Roman;} .cs1EFB4FB{12pt;font-weight:normal;color:#000000;font-style:italic;Times New Roman;} .cs3270F94{margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt}\u003c\/style\u003e\r\n\t\r\n\t\u003cp class=\"cs3270F94\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cs97DFFCB\"\u003eWatkin Tench was born in Chester, England, in 1758. His father was a dance teacher and the master of a boarding school.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn 1776, Tench entered the marine corps. He served in the American War of Independence, during which he was taken hostage for three months. He was soon promoted to captain lieutenant. In 1786 Tench volunteered for a three-year tour of duty to the convict colony of Botany Bay.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePrior to his departure, Tench was commissioned by the publisher John Debrett of Piccadilly to write a book about his adventures. In fact he wrote two. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cs1EFB4FB\"\u003eA Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cs97DFFCB\"\u003e was published in 1789, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cs1EFB4FB\"\u003eA Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cs97DFFCB\"\u003e in 1793. Both were successful, and were translated into a number of languages. 'Not to have read Watkin Tench,' wrote Robert Hughes, 'is not to know early Australia.'\u003cbr\u003eTench was back in England by 1792. In October of that year he married Anna Maria Sargent. He served in the war against France but was captured. Imprisoned for six months, he wrote an account of French politics and society. After his release he continued to serve until he retired as a major-general in 1816.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWatkin and Anna Maria had no children of their own but adopted four of Anna's sister's children who had been orphaned. Tench died in England in 1833. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Red Kangaroo Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44305545592920,"sku":"9781921922312","price":15.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0562\/8343\/1000\/files\/9781921922312_1.png?v=1782956972","url":"https:\/\/redkangaroobooks.au\/products\/1788-by-watkin-tench-text-classics","provider":"Red Kangaroo Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}