Tag Archives: Biography

Dictionary of Australian Biography by PERCIVAL SERLE. Angus and Robertson. 1949.

Thomas Laycock (1756?-1809), quartermaster, was enrolled as a sergeant in the New South Wales Corps in 1789. He was promoted quartermaster in January 1791 and arrived in Sydney in H.M.S. Gorgon in September. Governor Arthur Phillip recommended Laycock for a vacant ensigncy in April 1792, but this was refused because he already held a commission.Continue reading “Laycock, Thomas (1756–1809)”

Thomas Laycock (1786?-1823), soldier and explorer, was the son of Thomas Laycock and his wife Hannah, and came to Sydney with his mother in 1791. He entered the New South Wales Corps, was commissioned ensign in December 1795 and promoted lieutenant in 1802. After serving in turn at Sydney and Norfolk Island, he was sentContinue reading “Laycock, Thomas (1786–1823)”

Florens Theodor Reinhard Müller (1825-1881), botanist and poet, was born on 26 December 1825 at Dresden, Saxony, son of Georg Heinrich Müller, administrative officer in the Saxon Office of Justice. Theodor was well educated and had some background in botany. He arrived in South Australia in 1849, probably aboard the Australia in September, and workedContinue reading “Müller, Florens Theodor Reinhard”

Ursula Hope McConnel (1888-1957), anthropologist, was born on 27 October 1888 at Cressbrook, near Toogoolawah, Queensland, fifth daughter and eighth of ten children of James Henry McConnel, grazier and farmer, and his wife Mary Elizabeth, née Kent, both Queensland born. David Cannon McConnel was her grandfather. Raised at Cressbrook (the family property and Shorthorn stud),Continue reading “McConnel, Ursula Hope”

by J. W. Forsyth Willem Janssen (flourished 1603-1628), mariner, of Amsterdam, was, according to Valentijn, a foundling. He received at least enough education to enable him to write a good hand and to become expert in navigation. He is first distinguishable from his many namesakes when, in December 1603, he sailed from Holland for theContinue reading “Janssen, Willem”