John Burdett Wittenoom
Encyclopedia
John Burdett Wittenoom was a colonial clergyman who was the second Anglican clergyman to perform religious services in the Swan River Colony
, Australia, soon after its establishment in 1829.
He was born in England at Newark-on-Trent
, Nottinghamshire
. His first wife, with whom he had five sons, died while he was teaching in England. Shortly after, he decided to emigrate to Western Australia
arriving on the Wanstead in January 1830 with his mother, sister and four sons, John Burdett, Henry, Frederick Dirck, and Charles.
He singlehandedly conducted services alternately every Sunday at Perth
, Guildford
and Fremantle
until 1836.
In later years he ran a grammar school and pursued his interest in education. In 1839 he remarried and in 1847 he was appointed to the colony's first education committee and was the inaugural chairman for eight years after it became the Board of Education.
After his death in 1855, his wife and daughter took charge of the government girls' school. A tablet in his memory is in St George's Cathedral, Perth
.
John Wittenoom's daughter Mary was the mother of Edith Cowan
. The progeny of Wittenoom's fifth son, Charles Wittenoom became notable individuals in the history of Western Australia.
Swan River Colony
The Swan River Colony was a British settlement established in 1829 on the Swan River, in Western Australia. The name was a pars pro toto for Western Australia. In 1832, the colony was officially renamed Western Australia, when the colony's founding Lieutenant-Governor, Captain James Stirling,...
, Australia, soon after its establishment in 1829.
He was born in England at Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. It stands on the River Trent, the A1 , and the East Coast Main Line railway. The origins of the town are possibly Roman as it lies on an important Roman road, the Fosse Way...
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
. His first wife, with whom he had five sons, died while he was teaching in England. Shortly after, he decided to emigrate to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
arriving on the Wanstead in January 1830 with his mother, sister and four sons, John Burdett, Henry, Frederick Dirck, and Charles.
He singlehandedly conducted services alternately every Sunday at Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Guildford
Guildford, Western Australia
Guildford is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 13 km northeast of the city. Its Local Government Area is the City of Swan.-History:Guildford was established in 1829 on the Swan River, being sited near a permanent fresh water supply...
and Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
until 1836.
In later years he ran a grammar school and pursued his interest in education. In 1839 he remarried and in 1847 he was appointed to the colony's first education committee and was the inaugural chairman for eight years after it became the Board of Education.
After his death in 1855, his wife and daughter took charge of the government girls' school. A tablet in his memory is in St George's Cathedral, Perth
St George's Cathedral, Perth
St George's Cathedral is the principal Anglican church in the city of Perth, Western Australia and the mother-church of the Anglican Diocese of Perth. It is located in St Georges Terrace in the centre of the city.- History:...
.
John Wittenoom's daughter Mary was the mother of Edith Cowan
Edith Cowan
Edith Dircksey Cowan , MBE was an Australian politician, social campaigner and the first woman elected to an Australian parliament....
. The progeny of Wittenoom's fifth son, Charles Wittenoom became notable individuals in the history of Western Australia.