William George Carlile Kent

Captain William George Carlile Kent (1788 – 13 May 1871) was an officer in the Royal Navy, who was involved in the early settlement of the Colony of New South Wales, Australia.

Early life William George Carlile Kent was born in 1788 in Lanarkshire, Scotland, as the second-born son of John Kent, a purser in the navy. William's paternal grandmother was Mary Hunter, older sister of Captain John Hunter, who became the second Governor of New South Wales in 1795. In 1803 his father John became steward of Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth. In March 1800, Kent transferred to the 74-gun , Captain John Stiles, which took part in the blockade of Genoa, in 1800. He also allowed Bligh to communicate with Kent on the Porpoise. In November Kent was again sent to Port Dalrymple to bring Paterson to Sydney, and the second time was successful.

By then, however, Lieutenant John Porteous had arrived from Britain to assume command of Porpoise. and confined to the Porpoise pending a court martial. In September while off Malta, Kent was blinded in both eyes, although he eventually recovered some sight in one eye. He was placed on the retired list on half-pay although he was promoted from the list to captain in 1851.

Kent married on 30 December 1830, to Susannah Elizabeth Rankin, third daughter of John Rankin of Greenock, Scotland.