Richard Goldsmith Meares

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Richard Goldsmith Meares (1780-1862) was an early landholder and public official at the Swan River Colony in Western Australia.

Early life

Richard, born April 1780, was the son of William Meares of Killinboy,

Royal Academy to pursue an early interest in art, but a career as an officer in the British Army
began after the outbreak of war with France.

Meares' commissions began as ensign with the North Yorkshire militia in 1803, a promotion to the regular 7th Fusiliers followed soon after that; he eventually acquired the rank of cornet and sub-lieutenant in July 1810 with the

8th Regiment of Foot in 1818,[1] and occupied himself with art and horticulture.[2]

Western Australia

In 1829 Meares invested £500 with

servicemen into a mounted police force.[1]

Meares' name, and that of his son, Seymour, is recorded in the

Government Resident for the Murray district in 1837. After acquiring land in the Avon region, he became Resident Magistrate for the York district until he retired in 1859. The region was beset with disputes between local people and those of neighbouring districts while under his administration, his nature and correspondence being described as quirky or quarrelsome;[1] the publicity generated by these was a source of concern to the establishment at Perth. His name is reported as Captain Meares in contemporary papers, said to be pride in the rank he had purchased in the prestigious 2nd Life guards. A solicitor gave this account of proceedings,[4]

"In another case before the same magistrate, in which Mr. Seymour Meares, son of Capt. Meares, was complainant, and Thomas White, a lately imported Englishman, was defendant, on a charge of breach of contract, the father insisted on sitting as a magistrate, stating, "that he wished to see justice done to his son." This conduct was persisted in, although protested against by the defendant. Mr.

Perth Gazette
, January 1843.

Meare's wife was Ellen, or Eleanor,[2] née Seymour, born at Newcastle upon Tyne, whom he had married in 1808; she died at the colony in 1854. Their eldest son was Seymour Meares, who later settled at Pinjarra; of the earlier incident there he reported seeing eighteen graves, the subject of ongoing discourse in Western Australian history.[5]

He died 9 January 1862, and is buried in the town's cemetery.

Legacy

Richard Goldsmith Meares last years were in the Avon River valley. His role as the government's Resident was extended to the collection of taxes and statistician, and the foundation of local governance and societies. Meares helped establish the York Fair, and served on other committees, his equestrian interests helped conceive the York Race Club and another for the importation of thoroughbreds. Having brought his interest in horticulture to gardens at Guildford, he also introduced vineyards and a novel barley crop to York.[2]

Brief notices are given on Meares' able draughtsmanship, his sketches, and other works.[6] The well-appointed house at Guildford was named "Bower". A single artwork by Meares remains, a drawing of a mill at York, though records of others, since destroyed, include one of his residence at York.[1] The walls of his residence, a typical

Edmund Du Cane.[7]
His legacy to botany as a collector includes forwarding of material for
James Mangles (1786–1867) around the years 1835–42.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Conole, Peter, Police Historian. "Superintendent Richard Goldsmith Meares (1780-1862)". Western Australia Police Historical Society. Peter William Thomas. Retrieved 8 December 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^
    ISSN 1833-7538
    . Retrieved 8 December 2010. sources: J. E. Deacon, thesis and paper
  3. ^ Moore, G. F., Diary of ten years eventful life of an early settler in Western Australia… p. 239
  4. The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal
    Saturday 28 January 1843, p. 2.
  5. ISBN 978-0-9750769-0-3
    . Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  6. ^ staff writer. "Richard Goldsmith Meares". Dictionary of Australian Artists Online. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  7. ^ DAAO extensive quote of Edmund Du Cane 'Early days in Westralia', Cornhill Magazine 1897.
  8. ISBN 0-203-49022-3
    .
  9. ^ Fagg, Murray. "Australian Plant Collectors & Illustrators (M)". Listing of Western Australian Herbarium Research Notes Number 12, August 1986. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
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