John Harris, (Australian settler)
Encyclopedia
John Harris was a military surgeon and magistrate who became one of the earliest major landowners in the Colony of New South Wales
, Australia
.
Harris was born in Moneymore
, County Londonderry
, Ireland
, and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh
in Scotland
. Prior to his arrival in New South Wales in June 1790, he had served in the Royal Navy
for 10 years.
Harris was granted 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of land in Parramatta
in 1793. This grant was cancelled a year later and he was granted 110 acre (0.4451546 km²) in Harris Park
instead.
In 1803 he was brought before a court composed of officers of the New South Wales Corps
, charged with committing an offence on the "19th ultimo" (the 19th of the previous month). As the offence had been committed on the "19th instant" (the 19th of the current month), he had to be acquitted. In 1806, he was granted all of the land on the Drummoyne
Peninsula. He had various other landholdings including some in Ultimo
, which he named after his famous legal case. His total landholdings were listed at 5114 acres (21 km²) in 1826.
Despite having no formal legal training, Harris was appointed a magistrate and played an important role in the various political manoeuvrings that took in the colony during its first two decades. Among his colleagues during this pivotal early period was his fellow Irish-born surgeon and magistrate, Thomas Jamison
.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Harris was born in Moneymore
Moneymore
Moneymore is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 1,369 in the 2001 Census.It is an example of a Plantation village in Mid-Ulster. It was the first town in Ulster to have piped water.-Geography:...
, County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Prior to his arrival in New South Wales in June 1790, he had served in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
for 10 years.
Harris was granted 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of land in Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
in 1793. This grant was cancelled a year later and he was granted 110 acre (0.4451546 km²) in Harris Park
Harris Park, New South Wales
Harris Park is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Harris Park is located 23 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Parramatta and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.Harris Park is the home of several...
instead.
In 1803 he was brought before a court composed of officers of the New South Wales Corps
New South Wales Corps
The New South Wales Corps was formed in England in 1789 as a permanent regiment to relieve the marines who had accompanied the First Fleet to Australia. The regiment, led by Major Francis Grose, consisted of three companies...
, charged with committing an offence on the "19th ultimo" (the 19th of the previous month). As the offence had been committed on the "19th instant" (the 19th of the current month), he had to be acquitted. In 1806, he was granted all of the land on the Drummoyne
Drummoyne, New South Wales
Drummoyne is a suburb in the inner west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 6 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Canada Bay....
Peninsula. He had various other landholdings including some in Ultimo
Ultimo, New South Wales
Ultimo is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Ultimo is located 2 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney....
, which he named after his famous legal case. His total landholdings were listed at 5114 acres (21 km²) in 1826.
Despite having no formal legal training, Harris was appointed a magistrate and played an important role in the various political manoeuvrings that took in the colony during its first two decades. Among his colleagues during this pivotal early period was his fellow Irish-born surgeon and magistrate, Thomas Jamison
Thomas Jamison
Thomas Jamison was a prominent surgeon, government official, mercantile trader and land owner of Sydney, Australia. Jamison was also a member of the First Fleet expedition of 11 ships which founded the Australian colony of New South Wales in 1788...
.