Dr Joseph Milligan was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. In 1829 he obtained the diploma of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, in the following year was appointed surgeon to the Van Diemen's Land Co.'s establishment at Surrey Hills where arrived in February 1831. During his appointment as surgeon, and later surgeon superintendent, he became interested in natural history. In 1842 he left the company and settled in Launceston, and participated in an overland expedition to Macquarie Harbour as medical attendant and naturalist. After his return he held a number of important government positions, including inspector of convict discipline and a member of the board for Distributing Convicts.
In 1843 Joseph married Eliza, second daughter of William Effingham Lawrence of Launceston. Sadly she died on Flinders Island on 31 July 1844 after giving birth to a son. That same year he was appointed superintendent and medical officer of the Aboriginals, and held that position until 1855, except during the period from 1846 to 1847 when he was visiting magistrate and medical officer at the second penal settlement at Macquarie Harbour. During this appointment in 1847 he supervised the transfer of the Aboriginal settlement from Flinders Island to Oyster Cove, and compiled an extensive 'Vocabulary of the Dialects of Some of the Aboriginal Tribes of Tasmania', including his observations on native languages and customs.
Joseph was also an active member in the mining industries. During the period 1848 to1860 he became secretary of the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land, and was requested to survey the coal resources of the island. In 1855 became chairman of the Douglas River Coal Mining Co., and in 1856 explored the eastern slopes of the western mountains for the Fingal Gold Exploration Co.
In 1860 he retired from government service, and in June and sailed for England with his son, he did not return (Source: Australian Dictionary of Biography website:http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography).
