Philip Gidley King was twenty years younger than Phillip, and was thirty years of age when he, in 1786, joined the _Sirius_ as second lieutenant. In a statement of his services sent by himself to the Admiralty in 1790, he supplied the following particulars:-- "Served in the East Indies from the year 1770 to 1774 on board His Majesty's sloop and ships _Swallow, Dolphin_, and _Prudent_; in North America in His Majesty's ships _Liverpool, Virginia, Princess_, and _Renown_ from the year 1775 to 1779. I was made a lieutenant into the last ship by Mr. Byron November 26th, 1778. On Channel service, Gibraltar, and Lisbon, in His Majesty's sloop and ship _Kite_ and _Ariadne_ from 1780 to 1783; in the East Indies in His Majesty's ship _Europe_ from 1783 to 1785; in New South Wales in His Majesty's ship the _Sirius_ from 1786 to 1790. This time includes the ship being put in commission, and my stay at Norfolk Island to this date. In His Majesty's service twenty years; twelve years a lieutenant." King had entered the service when he was twelve years of age, and was previously under Phillip in the _Europe_. He was probably the best educated of the officers in the first fleet, and from his knowledge of French there happened an episode which is a matter not only of Australian, but of European, interest. While the first fleet were lying at anchor in Botany Bay, two strange sail were seen in the offing. That official historian, Tench, of the marines, in a little touch of descriptive ability, which he sometimes displayed, described the incident:--