Were any French-Canadian political prisoners brought to Australia when it was a prison colony

Question

Were any French-Canadian political prisoners brought to Australia when it was a prison colony

Answer 1

The following is from the Convicts to Australia Web Page

Canadian Convicts on the HMS Buffalo 1839-1840

From 1839 to 1840 a number of convicts were transported from the British colony of Canada (known then as Upper Canada) for taking part in the rebellions against the British crown. 82 were American patriots, who had crossed the border, and 58 were French prisoners from Lower Canada. 5 civil prisoners were also transported.

The Buffalo departed from Quebec on 28th September 1839, sailed via Rio de Janeiro, and arrived off Hobart, Tasmania, on 11th February 1840. The Americans were disembarked, but the French convicts from Lower Canada were sent on to Sydney, New South Wales. On 26th February the Buffalo arrived in Sydney with the 58 French-Canadian political prisoners, who were interned near present-day Concord, resulting in the naming of Canada Bay, French Bay and Exile Bay. They were apparently treated much better than the Americans; they were liberated sooner, and assisted in getting home.

Answer 2

Yes, these were the ones from the 1837 rebellions, who went to Canada Bay.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Bay

But, a large part of the 1837 rebels - including the most important ones - were able to escape by temporarily living in the US; and later returned, some going back to careers in politics.  (William Lyon McKenzie, though he's not French Canadian, was a good example of this.)

Answer 3

The extreme ones would have been a guest of Devils Island

Answer 4

The French penal colonies were in South America.