[2] Foveaux was an ensign in the 60th regiment[3] and then joined the New South Wales Corps in June 1789 as lieutenant, became a captain in April 1791 and reached Sydney in 1792.
Finding the island run down, he built it up with particular attention to public works, for which he earned the praise of Governor Philip Gidley King.
"[5] In September 1804 Foveaux left Norfolk Island for England to attend to his private affairs and seek relief for the asthma that affected him.
[1] In January 1809, the acting Lieutenant-Governor, Colonel William Paterson, returned and Foveaux remained to assist him and his successor, Major-General Lachlan Macquarie.
[1] Macquarie was impressed with Foveaux's administration and put him forward as David Collins's successor as Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), because he could think of no one more fitting, and considered that he could not have acted otherwise with regard to Bligh.