HMS Sirius (1786) - Definition and Overview

HMS Sirius was built as the Berwick around 1780, and renamed six years later. She left Portsmouth on 13 May 1787 as the flagship of the First Fleet under Captain Arthur Phillip, arriving in Port Jackson on 26 January 1788. Sirius remained with the settlement while most other ships of the fleet returned to England, some by way of China.

Sirius was lost on 19 March, 1790 off Norfolk Island, a major disaster for the settlements at Port Jackson and Norfolk. In command at the time was Captain John Hunter, later the second governor of New South Wales.

See HMS Sirius for other ships of this name.