Editing First Fleet (section)

===Preparing the fleet===
In September 1786 Captain [[Arthur Phillip]] was chosen to lead the expedition to establish a colony in [[New South Wales]]. On 15 December, Captain [[John Hunter (Royal Navy officer)|John Hunter]], was appointed Phillip's second. By now {{HMS|Sirius|1786|6}} had been nominated as flagship, with Hunter holding command. The armed tender HMAT {{HMS|Supply|1759|3}} under command of Lieutenant [[Henry Lidgbird Ball]] had also joined the fleet.<ref name=NelsonFleet>{{Citation |last=Hiscocks |first=Richard|year=2018 |title=The 'First Fleet' sails for New South Wales – 31 May 1787 |publisher=morethannelson.com|url=https://morethannelson.com/first-fleet-sails-new-south-wales-31-may-1787/ |access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>

With Phillip in [[London]] awaiting [[Royal Assent]] for the bill of management of the colony, the loading and provisioning of the transports was carried out by Lieutenant [[John Shortland (Royal Navy officer)|John Shortland]], the agent for transports.<ref name=NelsonFleet/><ref name=McMartin>{{Citation |last=McMartin|first=Arthur|year=1967|title=Shortland, John (1739–1803)|publisher= Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/shortland-john-2658/text3643 |access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>

On 16 March 1787, the fleet began to assemble at its appointed rendezvous, the [[Motherbank|Mother Bank]], [[Isle of Wight]]. His Majesty's frigate ''Sirius'' and armed tender ''Supply'', three store-ships, ''[[Golden Grove (1782 ship)|Golden Grove]]'', ''[[Fishburn (1780 ship)|Fishburn]]'' and ''[[Borrowdale (1785 ship)|Borrowdale]]'', for carrying provisions and stores for two years; and lastly, six transports; ''[[Scarborough (1782 ship)|Scarborough]]'' and ''[[Lady Penrhyn (1786 ship)|Lady Penrhyn]]'', from [[Portsmouth]]; ''[[Friendship (1784 ship)|Friendship]]'' and ''[[Charlotte (1784 ship)|Charlotte]]'', from [[Plymouth]]; ''[[Prince of Wales (1786 ship)|Prince of Wales]]'', and ''[[Alexander (1783 ship)|Alexander]]'', from [[Woolwich]].<ref name=Phillip2>{{Citation |last=Phillip|first=Arthur|year=1789|title=The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay - chapter2|publisher=Project Gutenberg Australia|url=https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks/e00101.html#chapter-02|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref> On 9 May Captain Phillip arrived in Portsmouth, the next day coming aboard the ships and giving orders to prepare the fleet for departure.<ref name=Hunter1>{{Citation |last=Hunter|first=John|year=1793|title= An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island - chapter1|publisher=Project Gutenberg Australia|url=https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks/e00063.html#ch-01|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>