Lawrence Kavenagh

Lawrence Kavanagh (c. 1805 – 13 October 1846) was a convict bushranger known for escaping from Port Arthur, Van Diemen's Land (the so-called escape proof colony), with Martin Cash and George Jones.

Born in Waterford, Ireland, he was convicted for burglary and sentenced to penal transportation for life. He arrived on the Ferguson in 1829 at Sydney. After committing many offences he was sent to Norfolk Island where he received a total of 180 lashes for insolence and attempted escape. In 1842 he escaped and returned to Sydney. There Kavanagh fired on two men who recognized him while on the run. He was captured and sentenced to Port Arthur for attempted murder.

On Boxing Day 1842 Lawrence Kavanagh, Martin Cash and George Jones absconded from a work party. Hiding in dense scrubland and with little food they made their way 15 km to the neck. Swimming with their clothes tied in bundles above their heads, they made it to the other side but all three of them lost their bundles. Now naked, the trio robbed a road gang's hut for clothing, and began a twenty-month spree of bushranging and robbing mail coaches, homesteads and inns.

In July 1843, the Government offered 'one hundred acres of land or one hundred sovereigns, in addition to the reward of fifty sovereigns, free pardon, and passage from the colony, for the apprehension of' Cash, Jones and Kavenagh.

Kavanagh tripped over one day and the charge in his gun exploded. He said he had to give himself up or he would bleed to death in the bush.

He was tried on 4 September 1843, before Justice Montagu, found guilty, and sentenced to death. But the sentence was commuted by the Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Eardley-Wilmot, and Kavanagh was sent to Norfolk Island. He soon returned to crime, joining a large group in a mutiny that led to the murder of an overseer, a gatekeeper and two constables.

Lawrence Kavanagh was hanged with 11 others on 13 October 1846. He was buried on Norfolk Island and is discussed on the island's tours.