Edward Brown

Captain Brown, delegate

Led by George Thomson, Dr D.G. Jones and an Irish-born American, and 'Captain' Edward Brown, the association focused its attention on the 30 shillings monthly licence fee miners were required to pay to the government. Drawing up the petition. These three men drew up a petition outlining the diggers' grievances and calling for a reduced licence fee, improved law and order, the right to vote and the right to buy land. The petition was signed by diggers at Bendigo, Ballarat, Castlemaine, McIvor (Heathcote), Mount Alexander (Harcourt) and other diggings. The petition was brought to Melbourne and presented to Lieutenant-Governor Charles Joseph La Trobe on the 1 August 1853. Most of its demands, including the reduction in the licence fee, were rejected. Eventually the diggers' dissatisfaction erupted, culminating in the Eureka uprising at Ballarat on 3 December 1854.