The governor of New South Wales in 1808 was William Bligh. Bligh was appointed as the governor of the colony in 1805, following his successful stint as the captain of the HMS Bounty. However, his time as governor was marred by conflict and controversy, culminating in the Rum Rebellion of 1808. The Rum Rebellion was a coup d'état that took place on January 26, 1808, when Bligh's administration was overthrown by a group of influential colonists led by John Macarthur. Bligh's strict and unpopular governing style, along with his attempts to curb the power of the New South Wales Corps, led to widespread discontent among the colonists. Bligh was placed under house arrest and eventually sent back to England to face charges of tyranny and incompetence. Despite his eventual acquittal, his reputation never fully recovered, and he was never again given a significant command. The events of 1808 had a lasting impact on the governance of New South Wales and the broader history of Australia. It highlighted the tensions between the military and civilian authorities in the colony and ultimately paved the way for the establishment of representative government in the region. To learn more about William Bligh and the Rum Rebellion of 1808, you can visit the official website of the State Library of New South Wales at https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/rum-rebellion. Here, you can find a wealth of information and resources related to this pivotal moment in Australian history. Overall, William Bligh's tenure as governor of New South Wales in 1808 was marked by conflict and controversy, culminating in his overthrow in the Rum Rebellion. His legacy remains a subject of debate and discussion among historians and scholars to this day.

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