Gordon Minhinnick
Encyclopedia
Sir Gordon Edward George Minhinnick KBE (13 June 1902 – 19 February 1992) was a New Zealand
cartoonist
.
He was born at Torpoint
, Cornwall
, United Kingdom
, educated at Kelly College
, Devon
, and left for New Zealand in 1921 where he studied architecture for four years. In 1926 he joined the New Zealand Free Lance as cartoonist, but soon transferred to the Christchurch Sun and thence to the Auckland Sun. He joined the New Zealand Herald as a political cartoonist in 1930 and although he officially retired in 1976, contributed cartoons to the newspaper for more than another decade.
In June 1950 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE), and in 1976 was Knighted (KBE) for his services to cartooning.
when Low left the London newspaper in 1949. Minhinnick also taught Les Gibbard
(the cartoonist who went on to replace Bill Papas, Low's successor, then at The Guardian
) in Auckland during the 1950s.
Minhinnick illustrated several popular New Zealand books ("Murphy's Moa", "From N to Z", "Trout at Taupo", "Four Seasons of Country Diary" ), and he regularly published collections of his work (such as "The Minhinnick annual", "Min's Sauce" to "Just a Min" ).
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
.
He was born at Torpoint
Torpoint
Torpoint is a civil parish and town on the Rame Peninsula in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated opposite the city of Plymouth across the Hamoaze which is the tidal estuary of the River Tamar....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, educated at Kelly College
Kelly College
Kelly College is a coeducational independent school situated in the outskirts of Tavistock, Devon, with around 350 students ranging from ages 11 to 18; there is an associated preparatory school for primary school children, Kelly College Preparatory School, nearby.The college has eight hectares of...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, and left for New Zealand in 1921 where he studied architecture for four years. In 1926 he joined the New Zealand Free Lance as cartoonist, but soon transferred to the Christchurch Sun and thence to the Auckland Sun. He joined the New Zealand Herald as a political cartoonist in 1930 and although he officially retired in 1976, contributed cartoons to the newspaper for more than another decade.
In June 1950 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE), and in 1976 was Knighted (KBE) for his services to cartooning.
Career
Grant (1987) describes Minhinnick as "pre-eminent among New Zealand cartoonists. His work for the country's largest newspaper was widely syndicated and of a consistently high standard; witty rather than barbed, and with a feel for caricature that gave the cartoons an added dimension". Minhinnick was strongly influenced by New Zealand cartoonist David Low, and was offered, but declined, Low's job at the London Evening StandardEvening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
when Low left the London newspaper in 1949. Minhinnick also taught Les Gibbard
Les Gibbard
Les Gibbard was a New Zealand born British political cartoonist, journalist, illustrator and animator. As a political cartoonist at The Guardian newspaper for 25 years, Gibbard became the longest-serving artist of his type in the publication’s history...
(the cartoonist who went on to replace Bill Papas, Low's successor, then at The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
) in Auckland during the 1950s.
Minhinnick illustrated several popular New Zealand books ("Murphy's Moa", "From N to Z", "Trout at Taupo", "Four Seasons of Country Diary" ), and he regularly published collections of his work (such as "The Minhinnick annual", "Min's Sauce" to "Just a Min" ).
External links
- Biography at Te Ara/Encyclopaedia of New Zealand
- Essay at Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Retrieved 07 Oct 2008)
- New Zealand Cartoon Archive - "Better not interfere, old boy - he might lose his temper!", Gordon Minhinnick, New Zealand Herald, 7 January 1964