The crossdressing horse thief
Some more poorly known Australian HERstory. Every single Australian has owned at least one portrait of our most famous and cross-dressing/ gender-bending, horse thieving, criminal, tycoon, banker, magnate. You might have several right now. Presenting: Mary Reibey.
Mary Reibey, baptised as Molly Haddock, was born in May 1777 in Lancashire, England. She was convicted of horse theft at Stafford on 21 July 1790. Mary once said she only took the horse because she was bored and found embroidery intolerable.
She was sentenced to be transported to Sydney for seven years, arriving in Sydney aboard the Royal Admiral in October of 1792. Just before she was transported authorities realised she wasn't James at all. Throughout her arrest and trial she dressed and passed off as a man
She was imprisoned as a man, in a man's prison, the whole bit. However, in her defence (and allegedly when forced to shower) she revealed she was female and this was used in her trial for clemency, but also a risky move. Cross-dressing could itself be reason for a death sentence.
It's not likely she was trans, or gender-fluid or anything. The whole experience is attributed to a high-spirited escapade because she had no parental control - her parents were dead and she lived with her grandmother. She was 13 after all. But then again...
in October 1792 she was assigned as a nursemaid in the household of Major Francis Grose. On 7 September 1794 she married Thomas Reibey, a young Irishman in the service of the East India Co. They married in Sydney and were determined to rise through the ranks.
Thomas was granted stolen-land on the Hawkesbury River and started a successful cargo business and purchased several farms. He was often away so she ran the whole show and was very good at it. Thomas died in 1811, the empire was hers.
Mary was left with sole responsibility for their seven children and all their many businesses including a sealing operation on the Bass Strait. Mary was an excellent businesswoman the businesses were super profitable, and growing.
She bought properties across central Sydney including in Macquarie Place, George St and the King’s Wharf. She was also good friends with the Governor, Lachlan Macquarie.
She was also fierce, she was found guilty of assaulting someone who owed her money - with a brolly
She was such a good businesswoman she was a founding member of the first Bank, the Bank of NSW, now Westpac. In fact, the bank was founded in the living room of one of her many houses.
A boss.
Mary Reibey, persevering and enterprising in everything she undertook, became legendary in the colony.
She took an interest in the church, education and works of charity. Remember, she was a convicted thief and now she was filthy rich on her own accord.
She lived in Newtown until her death in May 1855. Only one portrait of her remains and it is in the State Library of New South Wales. However it has been reproduced millions of times. You have definitely seen one and you may have several of them right now. Why? How? What?
Mary Reibey is on the Australian $20 bank note. What's more (anglo) Australian than a cross-dressing, horse-thieving, convict millionaire, badass entrepreneur as the face of our $20 bill.
Hopefully you've learned a thing, so share this on so others can learn a thing .
