First Fleet

The First Fleet was a group of ships that sailed from England to Australia in 1787, carrying the first group of convicts, as well as some free settlers and supplies. This expedition aimed to establish a penal colony in New South Wales, primarily to alleviate overcrowding in British prisons. The fleet arrived at Botany Bay in January 1788, later moving to Port Jackson, where Sydney was founded. The First Fleet marked the beginning of European colonization in Australia and had significant implications for the indigenous populations and the development of Australian society.