John West John West i(A75957 works by)
Also writes as: John Adams
Born: Established: 17 Jan 1809
c
England,
c
c
United Kingdom (UK),
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Western Europe, Europe,
; Died: Ceased: 11 Dec 1873 Woollahra, Sydney Eastern Harbourside, Sydney Eastern Suburbs, Sydney, New South Wales,
Gender: Male
Arrived in Australia: 1839
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BiographyHistory

John West grew up in England and held several clergy and home missionary appointments prior to offering his services to the Colonial Missionary Society. West arrived in Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land in December 1838, but soon moved to Launceston where, in 1842, he became pastor of St John's Square Chapel. Also in that year, West, together with James Aikenhead and Jonathan Stammers Waddell (qq.v.), established the Launceston Examiner. West assisted, too, in the foundation of a hospital, a cemetery, a mechanics' institute, a school and an insurance company, and campaigned vigorously for the abolition of transportation and against state aid for churches.

West wrote the two-volume work The History of Tasmania, published in 1852. His entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography notes that later researched 'revealed remarkably few inaccuracies' in the history and that 'West is sometimes credited with being one of the founding fathers of Australian historical writing'. West also contributed articles to the Sydney Morning Herald and was an editorial writer for his own newspaper, the Launceston Examiner. In 1854, West, a friend of John Fairfax (q.v.), took up the position of editor at the Sydney Morning Herald. 'His forthright statements won him friends but also attracted criticism, which in Sydney of that period often degenerated into personal vilification and led to much litigation.'

Source: Australian Dictionary of Biography Online: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/west-john-2784
Sighted: 11/04/2013

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • See also the full Australian Dictionary of Biography Online entry for John West.
Last amended 15 Apr 2013 12:35:38
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