William Redfern William Redfern ( c . 1774 – July 1833 ) was a leading surgeon in early colonial New South Wales . Early life . Redfern appears to have been born in Canada and raised in Trowbridge , Wiltshire , England . He passed the examination of the London Company of Surgeons in 1797 and was commissioned as a surgeon ' s mate in the Royal Navy . Mutiny . Redfern was sentenced to death for his part in the naval Mutiny of the Nore in 1797 . This was commuted to transportation for life due to his age at the time of his crime . After spending four years in an English jail he was transported to New South Wales in 1802 . Career in New South Wales . Redfern was granted a conditional pardon following his arrival in Sydney . In 1803 , he received a full pardon from the colony ' s governor , King . As early as 1804 Redfern had been advocating the new smallpox vaccination . After being examined about his level of medical knowledge by the Surgeon - General of New South Wales , Thomas Jamison , it was certified that Redfern was " qualified to exercise the profession of a surgeon , etc . " He was appointed as assistant surgeon in 1808 by Joseph Foveaux . Foveaux planned to confirm Redfern ' s appointment and stated that his " skill and ability in his profession are unquestionable , and his conduct has been such as to deserve particular approbation " . Soon after Lachlan Macquarie ' s arrival as governor in 1810 , he stated that he found that no transported men had yet been received into society at Sydney . He felt , however , " that emancipation , when united with rectitude and long - tried good conduct , should lead a man back to that rank in society which he had forfeited " . He was aware that the attempt to do this would need caution and delicacy , and stated that up to then he had " admitted only four men of that class to his table " , of whom Redfern was one . When D ' Arcy Wentworth became principal surgeon in 1811 Redfern succeeded him as assistant surgeon . Redfern was doctor to governor Macquarie . In 1814 Redfern reported to Macquarie on the sanitary problems of the ships transporting convicts to New South Wales . As a result of this report the conditions were greatly improved . In 1817 he became one of the founders of the Bank of New South Wales . Redfern had expected to succeed Wentworth as principal surgeon ; Macquarie indeed recommended him for the position in 1818 — however it was given to James Bowman in 1819 . Redfern immediately resigned from the Colonial Medical Service and later in the same year Macquarie made him a magistrate , but this was objected to by Commissioner Bigge and the appointment was not sanctioned . Redfern had a large private practice as a physician , and though somewhat brusque in manner was much liked and trusted ; he became the " best " and " best - known " surgeon in Sydney . He visited England in 1821 as a delegate for the emancipists endeavouring to obtain relief from their disabilities , and in January 1824 he was at the island of Madeira for the benefit of his health . His wife , who was then in London , made application on his behalf for an additional grant of land , which was allowed . He was evidently then in good circumstances . In 1826 he retired from practising as a physician , and for about two years engaged in scientific farming which had been a hobby of his for some time . He went to Edinburgh about the end of 1828 and died there towards the close of July 1833 . He married in 1811 Sara Wills , who survived him , together with their son . Legacy . Redfern can be regarded as one of the " fathers " of the medical profession in Australia . The inner - Sydney suburb of Redfern takes his name .