Lord Sydney, as Secretary of State for the Home Office, was the minister in charge, and in September 1786 he appointed Phillip commodore of the fleet which was to transport the convicts and soldiers who were to be the new settlers to Botany Bay.
Lord Sydney var som indenrigsminister ansvarlig for foretagendet og i september 1786 udnævnte han Phillip til kommandør af den flåde, der skulle transportere de straffefanger og soldater, der skulle være de nye bosættere, til Botany Bay.