Alexander John Skene
Alexander John Skene, Esq. M.A. J.P. (1820 – 22 August 1894) was
Early life
Skene was born Aberdeen, Scotland, the son of Alexander John Skene, an army major, and his wife Catherine Margaret, née Auldjowas. Skene junior was educated at the University of Aberdeen graduating M.A. in 1838 [2] and practised in surveying.[1]
Career in Australia
Skene arrived in Melbourne in 1839, became official surveyor to the Grant district council in 1843 and a government district surveyor in October 1848. Skene showed the theodolite to be a more accurate and reliable than the compass technique previously used.[1] In 1853 Skene was placed in charge of the District Survey Office at Geelong and in 1854 was appointed Surveyor of the colony under patent. Three years afterwards Mr. Skene was specially employed to report on the nature and capability of the land of the colony, and in 1862 was transferred to Melbourne. On 12 June 1863
Skene was a founding member of the Victorian Institute of Surveyors established in 1874, and was nominated as the inaugural President of the Institute on 7 April 1874, but declined. At its first meeting held at Weber's Hotel, Elizabeth Street Melbourne at 12.30pm on Saturday 9 May 1874, the Institute acknowledged with regret Skene's inability to accept the office of President, but was hopeful that as a member, Skene would take as active an interest as possible in the affairs of the Institute.
Late life
Skene retired as Surveyor General in 1886, and was succeeded by Alexander Black. Made a commissioner of land tax in 1878, Skene was reappointed in 1887. He died in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda on 22 August 1894, survived by three of his four sons and one of his two daughters.[1] Skene, who married Catherine Williamson at Heidelberg, Victoria, on 31 August 1842, was appointed a justice of the peace (J.P.) in 1865.[4]
References
- ^ ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
- ^ 'Death of a Great Colonist' Yea Chronicle 30/08/1894 p.2
- ^ Victoria Government Gazette No.66, 26 June 1863, p.1417
- ^ a b Mennell, Philip (1892). . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
- ^ Victoria Government Gazette No.112, 15 September 1868, p.1722
- ^ Victoria Government Gazette No.51, 17 September 1869, p.1478