Robert Richardson (poet)

Robert Richardson (1850–1901) was an Australian journalist, poet and writer for children, possibly the first Australian-born children's writer.[1] He was born in New South Wales, eldest son of John Richardson, a New South Wales politician and store-keeper, and Janet, sister of Peter Nicol Russell.[2]

Robert Richardson
Robert Richardson
Born	7 January 1850 New South Wales, Australia
Died	4 October 1901 (aged 51) Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation	writer and store-keeper
Language	English
Nationality	Australian
Years active	1875–1901

Richardson completed a B.A. at the University of Sydney and later became well known for his contributions to a number of Sydney and Australian periodicals and newspapers. He was also a member of the firm of Richardson and Company, an Armidale-based millers and general store-keepers, started by his father.[3]

He left Australia for a life in Edinburgh in 1886 before returning to Sydney around 1894. He died in Armidale on 4 October 1901.[3][4]

Bibliography

Children's fiction

• Our Junior Mathematical Master; and, A Perilous Errand (1876)
• Black Harry, or, Lost in the Bush (1877)
• The Young Cragsman and Other Stories (1878)
• A Little Australian Girl, or, The Babes in the Bush; and, Jim : A Little Nigger (1881)
• Little Flotsam : A Story for Boys and Girls, and Other Tales (1881)
• The Best of Chums and Other Stories (1881)
• A Lighthouse Keeper for a Night and Other Stories (1881)
• The Hut in the Bush : A Tale of Australian Adventure, and Other Stories (1883)
• Adventurous Boat Voyages (1884)

Poetry

• Willow and Wattle : Poems (1893)
• Annette : Poems (used 1896)

References

1. Austlit - Robert Richardson
2. Australian Dictionary of Biography - Richardson, John (1810–1888)
3. "The Late Mr Robert Richardson" Evening News, 5 October 1901, p4
4. "Death of Mr. Robert Richardson". Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930). 5 October 1901. p. 9. Retrieved 18 April 2019.