Henry Bull was born in London to a 'respectable family' and his education was conducted 'chiefly with a view to merchantile pursuits'. Bull moved to Mauritius to commence business, but did not adapt to the climate. He returned to England where he established a printing business. With an increase in competition, Bull sold his printery and was preparing to move to Canada when he was approached by John Dunmore Lang (who was on a visit to England) and was persuaded to move instead to Australia.
Bull settled in Van Diemen's Land but some poor business decisions there, followed by the shipwreck of a vessel in which he had a financial interest, led to his re-location in Sydney, where he took up the management and editorship of Lang's newspaper, the Colonist.
Source: Colonist, 1.40 (1 October 1835): 316
