John Caesar

John Caesar (c. 1763 – 15 February 1796), nicknamed "Black Caesar", was a convict and one of the first people from the African continent to arrive in Australia. He is considered to be the first Australian bushranger.

Born in Madagascar, he was enslaved in the United States in the late 1770s. Caesar later moved to south England where he was tried in 1786 for stealing £12. His sentence was transportation to the Colony of New South Wales for seven years. In January 1788 he arrived in Botany Bay on the First Fleet convict ship Alexander. 15 months later Caesar was tried for stealing food and sentenced to transportation for life. He escaped into the bush but was caught two months later.

Caesar made another escape in 1789, but subsequently returned to the colony after being attacked by Aboriginals. He was sent to work on Norfolk Island, where he fathered a daughter with English-born convict Anne Power. He made a third escape in 1794. In late 1795, Caesar seriously wounded Aboriginal warrior Pemulwuy during a Bidjigal guerilla attack. Caesar made his fourth and final escape from custody in December. Governor John Hunter offered a lavish reward for his capture. In February 1796, Caesar was shot and killed by ex-highwayman John Wimbow.