Robert Ross ( Royal Marines officer ) Major Robert Ross ( c . 17409 June 1794 ) was the officer in charge of the First Fleet garrison of marines , and Lieutenant - Governor of the convict settlement of Norfolk Island . Life and career . He was born in Scotland , and joined the marines in June 1756 , being present at the siege of Louisburg and the capture of Quebec during the Seven Years ' War ( 1756 – 63 ) . Promoted to captain , he saw action at Bunker Hill in June 1775 during the American War of Independence . He was aboard HMS " Ardent " in August 1779 when it was captured and he was taken prisoner by the French . He was appointed as major and , accompanied by his eight - year old son , sailed to New South Wales on HMS " Sirius " , transferring to " Scarborough " during the voyage . From the start of his time in New South Wales Ross was in conflict with the governor Arthur Phillip and other officers . David Collins claimed an “ inexpressible hatred ” for him , and Ralph Clark described him at the time as “ without exception the most disagreeable commanding officer I ever knew ” . He refused to allow the marines to supervise the convicts at work , or to allow marine officers to sit as members of the criminal court , attitudes which some of his own officers disagreed with . He criticised Phillip for not building fortifications , and missed no opportunity to embarrass and hinder the governor . His actions made Phillip ' s task of administering the fledgling colony more difficult . Probably to prevent open conflict , Phillip sent Ross to Norfolk Island in March 1790 . Here , following the wreck of " Sirius " and the stranding of its crew on the island , Ross proclaimed martial law for four months . His attempts to clear more land so that the convicts could grow most of their own food increased their discontent at the additional heavy work . He quarrelled with his officers here as vigorously as he had at Port Jackson and was relieved , returning to Sydney in December 1791 . Life in Sydney . Back in Sydney he immediately quarrelled and fought a duel with an officer of the newly arrived New South Wales Corps , neither party being injured . On 18 December he , and most of the marines , departed on " HMS Gorgon " . Ross never adapted to life in the colony and had no faith in its future , stating that “ in the whole world there is not a worse country than what we have yet seen of this . … it may with truth be said , here Nature is reversed . " He also claimed that “ every person … who came out with a desire for remaining … are now most earnestly wishing to get away from it . ” Perhaps the loss of many of his personal possessions in the wrecks of " Sirius " and HMS " Guardian " soured his attitude . On his return to England , Ross resumed his military career . He died on 9 June 1794 . While his regime at Norfolk Island may have been harsh , it was perhaps no more so than that of his successors . Gillen says that he can be commended for his conscientious adherence to his principles , but appears to have been “ narrow minded , censorious , self - important and almost totally humourless ” . Literary references . Ross appears as a significant character in the Timberlake Wertenbaker play , " Our Country ' s Good " . In a sense , he appears as the main villain of the piece , sporting an outraged attitude towards Ralph Clark ' s proposal to the play , and exhibiting near sadism in his treatment of the convicts .