Thomas Burbury b. c.1809

  • Artist (Printmaker),
  • Artist (Textile Artist / Fashion Designer)
Sentenced to death in 1832 for participating in a protest against automated looms creating unemployment for weavers such as himself, Burbury was sentenced to death before being commuted to transportation. While waiting for his fate to be decided, he engraved a medal token with 'WHEN THIS YOU SEE THINK ON ME'. On arriving in Tasmania Burbury's life and career was thereafter a steady rise to wealth
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silk weaver and engraver, was in November 1831 one of a number of Coventry silk weavers involved in a riot of Luddites protesting against steam-powered looms that created unemployment and lower wages. Machinery was smashed and workers were arrested. The following March (1832) Burbury was sentenced to death, later commuted to transportation to Van Diemen’s Land. While waiting for his fate to be decided, Burbury engraved a medal token with his name and date of sentence on one side and on the other side the inscription: 'WHEN THIS YOU SEE THINK ON ME’. Burbury reached Hobart at the end of 1832. His life and career was thereafter a steady rise to wealth and respect. Sir Stanley Burbury, a former Governor of Tasmania, was a direct descendant.

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Writers:
Staff Writer
Date written:
1996
Last updated:
2007

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