George Stevenson (editor)
Encyclopedia
George Stevenson was a pioneer South Australia
n newspaper editor and horticulturist.
, England
the son of a gentleman farmer who died when George was 12 years old. Soon afterwards Stevenson went to sea with an uncle. Not liking the life, he returned to Great Britain
and began the study of medicine, but did not last long. Stevenson next went with a brother to Canada
and worked on the land, and subsequently travelled in Central America
and the West Indies. Around this time he began writing for the press and contributed to the London Globe and Examiner. Stevenson returned to England
in 1830 and it has been stated that he collaborated with Henry Lytton Bulwer in his books on France
which appeared in 1834 and 1836, but Stevenson's name is not mentioned in connection with either of these works. It is possible that he may have been employed to collect materials for them. Stevenson is reported to have been joint editor of the London Globe in 1835. An obituary rather has him as a "extensive contributor".
Stevenson married Margaret Gorton, of Chester, on 12 May 1836 at St George's, Hanover Square, London.
and clerk of the council in the new province of South Australia
.
Stevenson travelled on the 'Buffalo' arriving at Adelaide
on 28 December 1836, and read the governor's proclamation to the colonists. Before leaving London he had entered into partnership with Robert Thomas
with the intention of starting a newspaper in South Australia. A preliminary number of the South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register
was published in London on 18 June 1836, and about a year later, on 3 June 1837, this paper made its appearance at Adelaide. It was edited by Stevenson with ability but not without partisanship, and an attack on George Milner Stephen
, who became acting governor in July 1838, led to an unsuccessful libel action against the paper.
Governor George Gawler
arrived in October 1838 and after some criticism of him appeared in The Register, it lost its lucrative Government Gazette contract, hence the name change to South Australian Register. In the beginning of the 1840s difficult times came to Adelaide, and in 1842 Stevenson was obliged to give up his interest in the paper. It continued in other hands (notably Joseph Fisher
and John Howard Clark
) for about 90 years; Stevenson afterwards established the South Australian Gazette and Mining Journal, but it did not survive the exodus from South Australia which occurred after the discovery of gold in Victoria
. Stevenson was appointed coroner at Adelaide and carried out his duties with ability.
Stevenson has been dubbed the "Father of Horticulture in South Australia". He was, with John Barton Hack
, one of the two first winegrowers in South Australia
. Both Stevenson and Hack planted their first grapes at North Adelaide in 1837: Stevenson at "Melbourne Cottage" on his block between Melbourne Street and Finniss Street; Hack on his "Chichester Gardens" between Melbourne Street and Stanley Street. These properties were cut up for housing three or four years later.
Stevenson then rented the "Old Botanic Garden" (on the River Torrens below McKinnon Parade, North Adelaide) 1842-1843. This area was later rented by William Haines then George Francis, who pressed for a properly constituted Botanic Gardens.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n newspaper editor and horticulturist.
Early life
Stevenson was born at Berwick-on-Tweed, NorthumberlandNorthumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
the son of a gentleman farmer who died when George was 12 years old. Soon afterwards Stevenson went to sea with an uncle. Not liking the life, he returned to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and began the study of medicine, but did not last long. Stevenson next went with a brother to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and worked on the land, and subsequently travelled in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and the West Indies. Around this time he began writing for the press and contributed to the London Globe and Examiner. Stevenson returned to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1830 and it has been stated that he collaborated with Henry Lytton Bulwer in his books on France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
which appeared in 1834 and 1836, but Stevenson's name is not mentioned in connection with either of these works. It is possible that he may have been employed to collect materials for them. Stevenson is reported to have been joint editor of the London Globe in 1835. An obituary rather has him as a "extensive contributor".
Stevenson married Margaret Gorton, of Chester, on 12 May 1836 at St George's, Hanover Square, London.
Australia
In 1836 Stevenson was appointed secretary to the governor John HindmarshJohn Hindmarsh
Rear-Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh KH RN was a naval officer and the first Governor of South Australia, from 28 December 1836 to 16 July 1838.-Early life:...
and clerk of the council in the new province of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
Stevenson travelled on the 'Buffalo' arriving at Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
on 28 December 1836, and read the governor's proclamation to the colonists. Before leaving London he had entered into partnership with Robert Thomas
Robert Thomas (newspaper proprietor)
Robert Thomas was a newspaper proprietor, printer and early settler of South Australia.In 1836, Thomas migrated to the new colony with his wife Mary and family on the Africaine, arriving at Holdfast Bay on 8 November...
with the intention of starting a newspaper in South Australia. A preliminary number of the South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register
South Australian Register
The Register, originally the South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register, was the first South Australian newspaper. It was first published in London in June 1836 and folded almost a century later in February 1931....
was published in London on 18 June 1836, and about a year later, on 3 June 1837, this paper made its appearance at Adelaide. It was edited by Stevenson with ability but not without partisanship, and an attack on George Milner Stephen
George Milner Stephen
George Milner Stephen was a South Australian and Victorian politician and faith healer.Stephen born in Wells, Somerset, England, the sixth son of John Stephen, later judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and his wife Mary Anne, née Pasmore. G. M. Stephen was the younger brother of Sir...
, who became acting governor in July 1838, led to an unsuccessful libel action against the paper.
Governor George Gawler
George Gawler
-External links: – Memorials and Monuments in Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK...
arrived in October 1838 and after some criticism of him appeared in The Register, it lost its lucrative Government Gazette contract, hence the name change to South Australian Register. In the beginning of the 1840s difficult times came to Adelaide, and in 1842 Stevenson was obliged to give up his interest in the paper. It continued in other hands (notably Joseph Fisher
Joseph Fisher (Australian politician)
Joseph Fisher was a South Australian politician and newspaper proprietor born in Brighouse, Yorkshire.-Early Days:...
and John Howard Clark
John Howard Clark
John Howard Clark was editor of The South Australian Register from 1870 to 1877 and was responsible for its Echoes from the Bush column and closely associated with its Geoffry Crabthorn persona.-Early years:...
) for about 90 years; Stevenson afterwards established the South Australian Gazette and Mining Journal, but it did not survive the exodus from South Australia which occurred after the discovery of gold in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. Stevenson was appointed coroner at Adelaide and carried out his duties with ability.
Horticulture
Though an able man Stevenson was not fortunate as an editor, but he did useful work in horticulture, often lecturing on the subject. His house at North Adelaide stood in about 4 acres (1.6 ha) of land and he planted there every obtainable variety of fruit-tree and vine. When settlers complained about the hardness of the soil, Stevenson demonstrated its suitability for fruit and vegetable growing; confidently prophesying that over time South Australia would boast "orange groves as luxuriant and productive as those of Spain or Italy". With his gardener, George McEwin (1815 – 1885), Stevenson supplied most of the colony with vine cuttings, and set up a nursery for fruit trees.- McEwin was the author of the South Australian Vigneron and Gardeners' ManualSouth Australian Vigneron and Gardeners' ManualSouth Australian Vigneron and Gardeners' Manual was the first gardening book published in the newly founded colony of South Australia....
: containing plain practical directions for the cultivation of the vine; the propagation of fruit-trees, with catalogue and directions for cultivation; and the management of the kitchen garden, with catalogue of culinary vegetables, &c. &c, and later founded "Glen Ewin" orchard
Stevenson has been dubbed the "Father of Horticulture in South Australia". He was, with John Barton Hack
John Barton Hack
John Barton Hack was an early settler in South Australia; a prominent farmer, businessman and public figure. He lost his fortune in the financial crisis of 1840 and despite his best efforts, never regained anything like his former influence and prosperity...
, one of the two first winegrowers in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. Both Stevenson and Hack planted their first grapes at North Adelaide in 1837: Stevenson at "Melbourne Cottage" on his block between Melbourne Street and Finniss Street; Hack on his "Chichester Gardens" between Melbourne Street and Stanley Street. These properties were cut up for housing three or four years later.
Stevenson then rented the "Old Botanic Garden" (on the River Torrens below McKinnon Parade, North Adelaide) 1842-1843. This area was later rented by William Haines then George Francis, who pressed for a properly constituted Botanic Gardens.