John McGarvie
Encyclopedia
John McGarvie was a Scottish
born Australia
n Presbyterian minister and writer
.
McGarvie was born in Glasgow
, Scotland
, and was educated at Glasgow University, where he graduated.
In 1825 the Rev. John Dunmore Lang
appealled for a minister for the church at Portland Head on the Hawkesbury River
, New South Wales
; McGarvie was chosen and arrived in Sydney
in the Greenock on 22 May 1826 after a six month voyage from Leith
. Met on arrival by Reverend Lang, McGarvie went straight to Portland Head as the first Presbyterian minister of the Ebenezer Church, remaining until 1830.
In 1829 McGarvie contributed a series of biographical articles to the Sydney Gazette
with a number of his poems under such pseudonyms as 'M., Ananbaba', 'A.B., Marramatta' and 'C.D., Warrambamba'. When the Sydney Herald commenced in 1831, with his brother William
as one of its three original proprietors, he contributed the editorials, and continued as leader writer for a significant period. McGarvie was one of the founders in 1826 of the Sydney Dispensary (afterwards the Sydney Infirmary and Dispensary, and later Sydney Hospital
) and was its honorary secretary from 1836 until his death. He was also a founder of the Sydney School of Arts. On the establishment of the Australian College in 1831 he conducted the mathematics
department and also lectured in chemistry
and natural philosophy
.
In 1832 McGarvie accepted an invitation to start a second Presbyterian congregation in Sydney and held services in the courthouse until St Andrew's Scots Church was built at Kent Street
near Bathurst Street
. The church opened for divine service on 13 September 1835 and he remained as its minister until his death in 1853. Among the children he christened was John McGarvie Smith
.
In 1840 the University of Glasgow awarded McGarvie an honorary Doctor of Divinity
for his lifetime achievement. A volume of his sermons was published in Sydney in 1842. He died on 12 April 1853 and was buried at Gore Hill
cemetery, he was unmarried.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
born 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...
n Presbyterian minister and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
McGarvie was born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and was educated at Glasgow University, where he graduated.
In 1825 the Rev. John Dunmore Lang
John Dunmore Lang
John Dunmore Lang , Australian Presbyterian clergyman, writer, politician and activist, was the first prominent advocate of an independent Australian nation and of Australian republicanism.-Background and Family:...
appealled for a minister for the church at Portland Head on the Hawkesbury River
Hawkesbury River
The Hawkesbury River, also known as Deerubbun, is one of the major rivers of the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its tributaries virtually encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney.-Geography:-Course:...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
; McGarvie was chosen 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...
in the Greenock on 22 May 1826 after a six month voyage from Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
. Met on arrival by Reverend Lang, McGarvie went straight to Portland Head as the first Presbyterian minister of the Ebenezer Church, remaining until 1830.
In 1829 McGarvie contributed a series of biographical articles to the Sydney Gazette
Sydney Gazette
The Sydney Gazette was the first newspaper in Australia. Governor King authorised the publication of what was initially called 'The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser in 1803. Subsequently the first edition was published 5 March...
with a number of his poems under such pseudonyms as 'M., Ananbaba', 'A.B., Marramatta' and 'C.D., Warrambamba'. When the Sydney Herald commenced in 1831, with his brother William
William McGarvie
William McGarvie was a Scottish-born bookseller and newspaper owner, active in New South Wales.McGarvie was born in Glasgow and worked on the Glasgow Herald; he followed his brother John McGarvie to New South Wales in 1828 aboard the Comet...
as one of its three original proprietors, he contributed the editorials, and continued as leader writer for a significant period. McGarvie was one of the founders in 1826 of the Sydney Dispensary (afterwards the Sydney Infirmary and Dispensary, and later Sydney Hospital
Sydney Hospital
Sydney Hospital is a major hospital in Sydney, Australia, located on Macquarie Street in the Sydney central business district. It is the oldest hospital in Australia, dating back to 1788, and has been at its current location since 1811. It first received the name Sydney Hospital in 1881.Currently...
) and was its honorary secretary from 1836 until his death. He was also a founder of the Sydney School of Arts. On the establishment of the Australian College in 1831 he conducted the mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
department and also lectured in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and natural philosophy
Natural philosophy
Natural philosophy or the philosophy of nature , is a term applied to the study of nature and the physical universe that was dominant before the development of modern science...
.
In 1832 McGarvie accepted an invitation to start a second Presbyterian congregation in Sydney and held services in the courthouse until St Andrew's Scots Church was built at Kent Street
Kent Street
Kent Street may refer to one of the following:*Kent Street , Canada*Kent Street Senior High School, a school in Perth, Australia*Kent Street, East Sussex, UK *Kent Street, Kent, UK...
near Bathurst Street
Bathurst Street, Sydney
Bathurst Street is a cross street in the Central Business District of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is situated in the southern portion of the Sydney central business district and runs from Darling Harbour in the west, across the ridge where it crosses George Street, and...
. The church opened for divine service on 13 September 1835 and he remained as its minister until his death in 1853. Among the children he christened was John McGarvie Smith
John McGarvie Smith
John McGarvie Smith was an Australian metallurgist, bacteriologist and benefactor.Smith was born in Sydney, the eldest surviving of thirteen children of Scots parents David Milne Smith, tailor of Old South Head Road, and his wife Isabella, née Young. Baptised as John Smith by the Rev. John...
.
In 1840 the University of Glasgow awarded McGarvie an honorary Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
for his lifetime achievement. A volume of his sermons was published in Sydney in 1842. He died on 12 April 1853 and was buried at Gore Hill
Gore Hill, New South Wales
Gore Hill is an urban locality on the North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Gore Hill is located in the western part of the suburb of St Leonards....
cemetery, he was unmarried.