Penal Colonies on This Day in History

Some European Penal Colonies

This day in history: Henry Sewell, the first Prime Minister of New Zealand, was born on this day in 1807. Many New Zealanders are descendants of Australian convicts, since Australia was used as a penal colony by the British. Australia was not the only penal colony of note. Louisiana was used as a penal colony for the French, as was Devil's Island in French Guiana. Devil's Island was also known as the “Dry Guillotine,” owing to the high mortality rate from disease, harsh working conditions and hunger. Prisoners on Devil's Island who failed to meet daily work quotas in the timber camps were denied food. An estimated 50,000 inmates died.

The State (colony) of Georgia was started with the intended purpose of being a penal colony for debtors (a debtors-prison of sorts). 

The British used colonial North America as a penal colony through a system of slavery. Merchants would transport the convicts and auction them off to plantation owners upon arrival in the colonies. It is estimated that some 50,000 British convicts were sent to colonial America and the majority landed in the Chesapeake Colonies of Maryland and Virginia.

Bermuda was also used to house prisoners.

It's interesting to note that New Zealand and Australia are now so heavily locked down right now that the people there are once again imprisoned.

See also: New Zealand's dark secret: Many of us are descendants of Australian convicts