George Clarke (New Zealand pioneer)
George Clarke (29 June 1823 – 10 March 1913) was an Australian-born
Early life
George Clarke was born in
The family went on to New Zealand in 1824 and settled at
In 1832 George Clarke the younger was sent to Hobart and went to R. W. Giblin's school. Returning to New Zealand early in 1837 the boy studied with the Rev. William Williams, afterwards Bishop of Waiapu. In 1839 he went with Williams to Poverty Bay,[4] still continuing his studies, and there obtained an excellent knowledge of the Māori language, and of the mentality of the Maoris; an invaluable experience that he found of great use a year or two later.[5]
Career
In 1840 Clarke's father was made protector of aborigines by the recently appointed lieutenant-governor,
Clarke accompanied Commissioner
Minister
Clarke left New Zealand for Hobart and early in 1847 sailed to London and entered at Highbury College. He was ordained in the Union Chapel, Islington in 1851, and at once returned to Hobart to become minister of the Collins Street church. Soon a larger church was built in Davey Street, and for over 50 years he remained its pastor, honoured and beloved by all and never losing his appeal to the younger people. He took much interest in higher education, and was a member of the Tasmanian Council of Education for many years from 1878 and its president 1880–81. He was also a member of the Royal Society of Tasmania and a promoter of the Hobart Debating and Literary Association. He was one of the founders of the University of Tasmania, its first vice-chancellor from May 1890 to May 1898, and chancellor from May 1898 to May 1907, when he retired. He had retired from his church work in 1904. He died at Hobart on 10 March 1913. Apart from his Notes on Early Life in New Zealand, which appeared in 1903, Clarke's only publications were some separately published sermons and addresses and a small collection of Short Liturgies for Congregational Worship. He also wrote the memoir of James Backhouse Walker prefixed to his Early Tasmania. Clarke married a daughter of Henry Hopkins and was survived by two sons and four daughters.[5]
Notes
- ^ A. H. McLintock, ed. (23 April 2009). "CLARKE, George". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ Williams, William (1974). The Turanga journals, 1840–1850. F. Porter (Ed). p. 34.
- ^ "Te Waimate Mission House". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ "The Church Missionary Gleaner, July 1851". New Zealand Welcome. Adam Matthew Digital. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ a b c Serle, Percival (1949). "Clarke, George". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
References
- Sally O'Neill, 'Clarke, George (1823–1913)', MUP, 1969, pp 411–412.
- Notes on Early Life in New Zealand, by George Clarke. Not working 2012-02-29
- Frank Sainsbury, 'Notes on Early Life in New Zealand, by George Clarke.' Retrieved 2012-02-29