The first British settlers to Australia were mainly convicted prisoners. During the late 18th century, the British government began sending convicts to Australia as a way to relieve prison overcrowding in England. These convicts were sent to establish penal colonies in Australia, with the first fleet arriving in 1788 at Port Jackson, now Sydney. While there were some wealthy plantation owners and administrators among the early settlers, the majority were convicts who were sent to Australia as punishment for various crimes. The other groups mentioned, such as the British royal family and puritan missionaries, did not play a significant role in the early British settlement of Australia.
