Search

William Russell Russell was baptised on 22 December 1838 at Sandhurst, Berkshire, England, the son of Lieutenant Andrew Hamilton Russell and his wife, Eliza Ann Howlett. A strong military strain was evident throughout…

George Warren Russell was born in Haggerston, London, England, on 24 February 1854, the son of Miriam Warren and her husband, Gregory Ruffell Russell, a bricklayer and builder. The family emigrated to Tasmania, where…

Henry Blundell was born in Dublin, Ireland, probably in 1814 or 1815. The names of his parents are not known. He worked for the Dublin Evening Mail for 27 years, becoming manager, before he resigned over a disagreement…

Frederick George Ewington was born in Barnet, Hertfordshire, England, on 27 May 1844, the son of William Ewington, a labourer, and his wife, Jane Briers. Frederick was educated at nearby High Barnet. He arrived at…

James Dupré Lance was born at Boulogne, France, probably on 28 January 1829. He was the son of Madelina Louisa Porcher and her husband, John Edwin Lance, an Anglican clergyman. Little is known of James's early life. He…

Harry Atmore was born in Nelson on 14 December 1870, the 11th child of Edward Atmore, a gardener, and his wife, Ellen Winearls. Harry was educated at the Bridge Street School and then apprenticed to a signwriter in…

Frederick Riley Cooke (registered as Cook) was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, on 28 April 1867, the son of Samuel Riley Cook, a tailor, and his wife, Mary Schorah. He started work at the age of seven and was almost…

Henry George Ell is primarily remembered in Canterbury as the tireless promoter of the Summit Road along the crest of the Port Hills, but he also championed many other social and environmental causes. He was born…

Aileen Anna Maria Douglas was the daughter of a miller, John Douglas, and his wife, Bridget Murphy. She was born in County Cavan, Ireland, probably sometime between 1861 and 1863. Little is known of her early life. She…

Joseph Ivess, who was associated with some 40 New Zealand newspapers between 1868 and 1907, was born in Askeaton, County Limerick, Ireland, probably on 8 February 1844. He was the son of John Pope Ivess, a storekeeper,…

Joseph George Ward (registered at birth as Joseph Ward) was born in Hawke Street, North Melbourne, Australia, on 26 April 1856, the son of Irish immigrant parents William Ward, a clerk, and his wife, Hannah Dorney.…

George James Anderson was born at Back Creek, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, on 22 January 1860, the son of John Anderson, a carpenter, and his wife, Matilda Pattinson. As a young child George was brought to Lawrence,…

Friedrich Baume, later called Frederick Ehrenfried Baume, was born at Dunedin, New Zealand, on 13 June 1862, the son of Joseph Baume, a photographer, and his wife, Emilie Ehrenfried. He was educated at Thames and at the…

Sophia Lois Anthony was born on 12 August 1893 in Bondi, Sydney, Australia, the daughter of Stephen Anthony (formerly Nowinsky), a Polish draughtsman, and his wife, Clara Emma Ackland. She travelled to New Zealand in…

Francis Henry Dillon Bell, known to his friends and family as Harry, was born at Nelson, New Zealand, on 31 March 1851, the eldest son of the former New Zealand Company agent Francis Dillon Bell and his wife, Margaret…

Fisherman Stewart Smith transformed the ecology of New Zealand’s freshwater lakes and rivers through his many introductions of exotic fish, some of which prospered as pests and permanently damaged native ecosystems. He…

William Lee Rees was born probably on 16 December 1836 at Bristol, England, the son of James Rees, a surgeon, and his wife, Elizabeth Pocock. Rees's father died when he was young, and he was brought up by his mother and…

John Vigor Brown was born in London, England, on 18 June 1854. He was one of three sons of Jessie Gilmour and her husband, John Brown, a banker's clerk and later a commercial traveller; both were of Scottish descent.…

John Thomas Marryat Hornsby was born at Hobart, Tasmania, on 13 March 1857, the son of Sarah Turner and her husband, John Marryat Hornsby, a constable who later became a general printer. Hornsby junior was brought up in…

John Payne was born in Manchester, England, on 23 November 1871, the son of William Payne, a solicitor's clerk, and his wife, Sarah Ann Pell. After working in an office, Payne migrated to New Zealand about 1892, finding…