James King (pioneer)
Encyclopedia
James King was a Scottish-Australian who was important in the establishment of the wine industry
in Australia.
King left Scotland in 1826 as a free settler possessed of capital, and arrived in Sydney
early in 1827, and went into business as a merchant. In 1828 King received a grant of 2000 acres (8 km²) of land at Irrawang in the northern part of the colony, which became his chief interest. In 1831 he discovered some sand near Sydney suitable for glass
-making, samples of which were sent to England and found to be of fine quality. In January 1832 he asked that he might be rewarded for his discovery by a grant of 50 acres (202,343 m²) of land near Sydney, part of the present site of the University
. This was refused, but the English authorities suggested that he should be allowed the sum of £100 off the price of any land he might purchase from the state. King was much dissatisfied, and six years later was still endeavouring to have his claim better recognized. King had no success though he was able to mention that the Society of Arts in London had awarded him its silver medal, and that he had a fresh claim on account of his having established a pottery in the colony.
King was, however, in prosperous circumstances; he stated in his memorial that he had capital "to the amount of not less than £7000" in addition to valuable landed property in various parts of the colony. He had done much experimenting in vine growing and in making wine, and he continued to do this for many years, producing several varieties of wine of high quality. In 1850 he was awarded gold medals by the Horticultural Society of Sydney for a light sparkling wine
and for a white wine, and at the Paris
exhibition of 1855 his wines were highly commended and awarded a medal.
King left Australia in 1855 on a two years' visit to Europe and in 1857 published privately a pamphlet "Australia May Be an Extensive Wine-growing Country". King was by then in bad health, and died in London on 29 November 1857. He left a widow Eliza Elflida née Millner (1812–1887) who afterwards married William Roberts of Penrith, who by his will left £4000 to the University of Sydney
for the foundation of scholarships in memory of King.
Australian wine
The Australian Wine Industry is the fourth largest exporter of wine around the world, with 760 million litres a year to a large international export market and contributes $5.5 billion per annum to the nation's economy...
in Australia.
King left Scotland in 1826 as a free settler possessed of capital, and arrived in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
early in 1827, and went into business as a merchant. In 1828 King received a grant of 2000 acres (8 km²) of land at Irrawang in the northern part of the colony, which became his chief interest. In 1831 he discovered some sand near Sydney suitable for glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
-making, samples of which were sent to England and found to be of fine quality. In January 1832 he asked that he might be rewarded for his discovery by a grant of 50 acres (202,343 m²) of land near Sydney, part of the present site of the University
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. This was refused, but the English authorities suggested that he should be allowed the sum of £100 off the price of any land he might purchase from the state. King was much dissatisfied, and six years later was still endeavouring to have his claim better recognized. King had no success though he was able to mention that the Society of Arts in London had awarded him its silver medal, and that he had a fresh claim on account of his having established a pottery in the colony.
King was, however, in prosperous circumstances; he stated in his memorial that he had capital "to the amount of not less than £7000" in addition to valuable landed property in various parts of the colony. He had done much experimenting in vine growing and in making wine, and he continued to do this for many years, producing several varieties of wine of high quality. In 1850 he was awarded gold medals by the Horticultural Society of Sydney for a light sparkling wine
Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it making it fizzy. The carbon dioxide may result from natural fermentation, either in a bottle, as with the méthode champenoise, in a large tank designed to withstand the pressures involved , or as a result of carbon dioxide...
and for a white wine, and at the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
exhibition of 1855 his wines were highly commended and awarded a medal.
King left Australia in 1855 on a two years' visit to Europe and in 1857 published privately a pamphlet "Australia May Be an Extensive Wine-growing Country". King was by then in bad health, and died in London on 29 November 1857. He left a widow Eliza Elflida née Millner (1812–1887) who afterwards married William Roberts of Penrith, who by his will left £4000 to the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
for the foundation of scholarships in memory of King.