David Collins (lieutenant governor)

David Collins
1st Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen's Land
In office
16 February 1804  24 March 1810
GovernorPhilip Gidley King
William Bligh
Lachlan Macquarie
Preceded byPosition Established
Succeeded byColonel Thomas Davey
1st Judge Advocate of New South Wales
In office
24 October 1786  August 1796
GovernorArthur Phillip
John Hunter
Preceded byPosition Established
Succeeded byRichard Bowyer Atkins
Personal details
Born(1756-03-03)3 March 1756
London, England
Died24 March 1810(1810-03-24) (aged 54)
Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land
SpouseMaria Stuart Collins née Proctor

Colonel David Collins (3 March 1756 – 24 March 1810) was a British Marine officer who was appointed as the first Judge-Advocate to the British colony of New South Wales. He sailed with Governor Arthur Phillip on the First Fleet and assisted in the founding of what is now known as the city of Sydney. He became secretary to the Governor and was later tasked with establishing a secondary colony in Port Phillip. Collins deemed the site unsatisfactory and transferred this settlement to Van Diemen's Land (later known as Tasmania), where he was appointed Lieutenant Governor and founded the city of Hobart.