George Collingridge
Encyclopedia
George Collingridge was an Australia
n writer and illustrator best known today for his early assertions of Portuguese discovery of Australia in the 16th century.
He was born in Oxfordshire
, England
, educated in Paris
, served in the Papal Zouaves
(alongside his brother Alfred, who died in the Battle of Mentana
), and migrated to Australia in 1879 aboard the Lusitania (not the ship of the same name
that sank in 1915). He settled in the then isolated area of Berowra
, before moving to nearby Hornsby, New South Wales
. Since his French academic qualifications as a "Professeur" were not recognised by Australian universities, he worked as an artist and art teacher, and contributed drawings and articles to local newspapers. He founded the first Australian art magazine, and was one of the founders of the Royal Art Society of New South Wales.
His publication of The Discovery of Australia in 1895 earned him accolade as a "genius" and as "an authority on geographical matters" from members of the Royal Geographical Society
as well as foreign honours: in 1908 he was created a Knight Commander of the Order of Santiago by the King of Portugal
. In 1917 he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of Isabella la Catolica by the King of Spain
. However, not everyone was as complimentary; his official biographer, O.H.K. Spate, described him as of "undisciplined intellect" and lacking a "rigorously judicial habit of mind"; the book was a financial failure; and a proposed scheme to use a simplified version of the book, The First Discovery of Australia and New Guinea (1906), in schools was withdrawn.
Collingridge published "Alice in One Dear Land" in 1922. It is a handmade book with numerous small tipped in plates. Alice is depicted in the Australian bush with a koala, this is the first depiction of "Alice in Wonderland" in an Australian setting.
Collingridge's distant relative, Vanessa Collingridge
, published a book on Captain Cook
, entitled Captain Cook (2002), and the publication of this book has caused a certain resurgence of interest in George Collingridge in recent years.
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 writer and illustrator best known today for his early assertions of Portuguese discovery of Australia in the 16th century.
He was born in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, educated in 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...
, served in the Papal Zouaves
Papal Zouaves
The Papal Zouaves were an infantry force formed in defence of the Papal States.-Origin:The Zouaves evolved out of a unit formed by Christophe Léon Louis Juchault de Lamoricière...
(alongside his brother Alfred, who died in the Battle of Mentana
Battle of Mentana
The Battle of Mentana was fought on November 3, 1867 between French-Papal troops and the Italian volunteers led by Giuseppe Garibaldi, who were attempting to capture Rome, then the main centre of the peninsula still outside of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy....
), and migrated to Australia in 1879 aboard the Lusitania (not the ship of the same name
RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland. The ship entered passenger service with the Cunard Line on 26 August 1907 and continued on the line's heavily-traveled passenger service between Liverpool, England and New...
that sank in 1915). He settled in the then isolated area of Berowra
Berowra, New South Wales
Berowra is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Berowra is located 38 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
, before moving to nearby Hornsby, New South Wales
Hornsby, New South Wales
* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...
. Since his French academic qualifications as a "Professeur" were not recognised by Australian universities, he worked as an artist and art teacher, and contributed drawings and articles to local newspapers. He founded the first Australian art magazine, and was one of the founders of the Royal Art Society of New South Wales.
His publication of The Discovery of Australia in 1895 earned him accolade as a "genius" and as "an authority on geographical matters" from members of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
as well as foreign honours: in 1908 he was created a Knight Commander of the Order of Santiago by the King of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. In 1917 he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of Isabella la Catolica by the King of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. However, not everyone was as complimentary; his official biographer, O.H.K. Spate, described him as of "undisciplined intellect" and lacking a "rigorously judicial habit of mind"; the book was a financial failure; and a proposed scheme to use a simplified version of the book, The First Discovery of Australia and New Guinea (1906), in schools was withdrawn.
Collingridge published "Alice in One Dear Land" in 1922. It is a handmade book with numerous small tipped in plates. Alice is depicted in the Australian bush with a koala, this is the first depiction of "Alice in Wonderland" in an Australian setting.
Collingridge's distant relative, Vanessa Collingridge
Vanessa Collingridge
Vanessa Collingridge is an author and broadcaster. She is the youngest of five children born and raised in Woking in Surrey, England. Her father Gordon was half-Irish and her mother Irene half-Scottish....
, published a book on Captain Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
, entitled Captain Cook (2002), and the publication of this book has caused a certain resurgence of interest in George Collingridge in recent years.