Ceylon, China & the Death of Jane

The year 1796 is one of the most significant and transformative in Lachlan Macquarie's life. The early months of his journal are filled with the adventure and success of his involvement in the British miltary campaign against the Dutch forces in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). He records the details of the landing at Negombo, the siege and capture of Colombo, and his subsequent major role as commander of the force of 700 British and Sepoy troops sent southward to take control of the Dutch fortress at Point de Galle. This is Macquarie's first experience of independent miltary command, and it is one that he revels in. In fact, in a letter to his wife, Jane, on 24 February, he noted that he had now been dubbed the "Governor of Galle."

Letters:
23 February 1796
24 February 1796
26 February 1796
18 March 1796
29 March 1796

More complete details can be found on the related LEMA website:
Under A Tropical Sun: Lachlan Macquarie & the 73rd Regiment in Sri Lanka 1796-1821.

In mid-March, Macquarie received news from Bombay that Jane had become seriously ill. He immediately asked to be relieved of his command at Galle and allowed to return to India. On his arrival in Bombay, after a long and tediously slow voyage, he discovered that Jane was suffering from severe signs of consumption (tuberculosis) and was not expected to live. She, on the other hand, had convinced herself that her ill health was the result of her possible pregnancy. In the context of this delusion Macquarie immediately made arrangements for a sea passage to China in the hope that an ocean voyage would improve her declining health. However, two weeks after their arrival in Macao, Jane died in Macquarie's arms on the morning of 15 July 1796.

It comes as no surprise to discover that there are no journal entries by Macquarie after 6 May - the date of his arrival back in Bombay from Ceylon. It is unlikely that he had the time or the inclination to record his thoughts and activities during Jane's illness or in the dark months immediately following her death. However, some measure of his grief and loss can be found in his long letters from China, later in the year, to family members and close friends. Transcripts of these letters are planned to be added to this website in the future.