Emma Lambrick

Emma Jane Lambrick (4 August 1822 – October 1846) was an early resident of Port Essington in the Northern Territory of Australia who died there in relation to maternal death.

Early life

Lambrick was the daughter of Lieutenant Dillon, of the Royal Navy, and his wife Susan and was born at Perranarworthal in Cornwall. On 24 November 1842 she married Lieutenant George Lambrick at Budock Water and, in August 1843 their first daughter Emma was born. This was as it was McArthur's policy to keep married men, and their families, apart from other residents. Lambrick was additionally isolated for, as the only wife of an officer, she was separated from the other women. John Sweatman, who spent several weeks at the settlement, stayed with Lambrick and her family and remarked that she was "without society, no amusement and no one but her husband to talk to, and he is busy with his duties most of the time". He additionally described her as a "truly amiable and sensible woman".

Soon after arrival Lambrick became pregnant with her third child and, while awaiting their birth, her son George Jnr, who was never of good health, died; likely of malaria. In response to this death McArthur requested an additional medical officer to be stationed there who arrived in October. Lambrick then lost her third child, another son, shortly after his birth.

In October 1846 Lambrick died, only a month after the loss of her son; this was a maternal death. She was the first European woman to die at the settlement.

Legacy

Emma Court, in Driver, Northern Territory, is named for Lambrick.