James Stuart (1802-1842)
Encyclopedia
James Stuart after which the Brown Antechinus
(Antechinus stuartii) was named in 1841 by the entomologist William Sharp Macleay
, was one of the first Quarantine Officers at Sydney's North Head Quarantine Station
.
Born in Ireland
c1802, he arrived in Australia
in June 1834 and wrote to his sister, Margaret "by the ship Jessie from Liverpool, which place we left in December 1833 and after encountering very stormy weather we were obliged to put into Falmouth. We left the latter place in February and after a fine passage we put into Talbot Bay at the beautiful Town of the Cape of Good Hope. From this we sailed to Hobart Town and thence to Sydney, nothing remarkable occurring on the passage except that we were sometimes in danger from the drunkenness and consequent incapacity of our Captain."
He was a keen naturalist and artist and illustrated many species of bird, insect and fish during his era in Sydney
and also during a period on Norfolk Island
. Some 200 of his paintings are held by the New South Wales state Archives and by the Mitchell Library.
In his role of Colonial Assistant Surgeon, Stuart took charge of the sick who arrived at Sydney on board the emigrant ship Minerva on 24 January 1838. Of the 198 steerage passengers, 86 were attacked by typhus, 14 of whom died during the passage.
James Stuart was a nephew of the Indian Army officer, Major-General Charles Stuart
, better known as the "Hindoo Stuart" and grandson of Thomas Smyth (eldest son of Charles Smyth (1694-1783), MP for Limerick
, and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Thomas Prendergast, 1st Baronet).
One of his eight brothers was the diplomat Major Robert Stuart, and Robert Stuart King
, the footballer and clergyman, was his nephew.
Stuart died suddenly in 1842 but two earlier bouts of typhus, presumably contracted from incoming disease-ridden ships, probably hastened his death.
Brown Antechinus
The Brown Antechinus , also known as Stuart's Antechinus and Macleay's Marsupial Mouse, is a species of small carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae.-Taxonomy:...
(Antechinus stuartii) was named in 1841 by the entomologist William Sharp Macleay
William Sharp MacLeay
William Sharp Macleay was a British civil servant and entomologist.-Early life:Macleay was born in London, eldest son of Alexander Macleay who named him for his then business partner, fellow wine merchant William Sharp. He attended Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge graduating with...
, was one of the first Quarantine Officers at Sydney's North Head Quarantine Station
North Head Quarantine Station
The North Head Quarantine Station is a series of heritage listed buildings on the north side of Sydney Harbour at North Head, near Manly, a suburb of Sydney in Australia...
.
Born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
c1802, he arrived in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in June 1834 and wrote to his sister, Margaret "by the ship Jessie from Liverpool, which place we left in December 1833 and after encountering very stormy weather we were obliged to put into Falmouth. We left the latter place in February and after a fine passage we put into Talbot Bay at the beautiful Town of the Cape of Good Hope. From this we sailed to Hobart Town and thence to Sydney, nothing remarkable occurring on the passage except that we were sometimes in danger from the drunkenness and consequent incapacity of our Captain."
He was a keen naturalist and artist and illustrated many species of bird, insect and fish during his era 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...
and also during a period on Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
. Some 200 of his paintings are held by the New South Wales state Archives and by the Mitchell Library.
In his role of Colonial Assistant Surgeon, Stuart took charge of the sick who arrived at Sydney on board the emigrant ship Minerva on 24 January 1838. Of the 198 steerage passengers, 86 were attacked by typhus, 14 of whom died during the passage.
James Stuart was a nephew of the Indian Army officer, Major-General Charles Stuart
Major-General Charles Stuart
Major-General Charles Stuart was an officer in the East India Company Army and is well known for being one of the few British officers to embrace Hindu culture while stationed there, earning the nickname Hindoo Stuart....
, better known as the "Hindoo Stuart" and grandson of Thomas Smyth (eldest son of Charles Smyth (1694-1783), MP for Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Thomas Prendergast, 1st Baronet).
One of his eight brothers was the diplomat Major Robert Stuart, and Robert Stuart King
Robert King (footballer)
Canon Robert Stuart King was an English international footballer and Anglican clergyman.-Family:Robert Stuart King was born into a family of clergymen...
, the footballer and clergyman, was his nephew.
Stuart died suddenly in 1842 but two earlier bouts of typhus, presumably contracted from incoming disease-ridden ships, probably hastened his death.
Further reading
- Musgrave, A. (1955). Dr James Stuart: Artist Naturalist. Erskenville, NSW.
- Olsen, Penny. (2001). Feather and Brush: Three Centuries of Australian Bird Art. Melbourne, CSIRO Publishing. 240 pp (with numerous colour illustrations). ISBN: 0 643 06547 4
- Pearce, Barry. (1989). Australian Artists, Australian Birds. Angus & Robertson: Sydney. ISBN 0-207-16245-X