Andrew Doyle (c 1774–1841) was an Irish painter, engraver, and farmer. He was exiled for life to Australia in 1802 after being found in possession of a watermark of the Bank of Ireland, used to forge banknotes.

Early life and exile

Andrew Doyle was born around November 1774 in Dublin, Ireland. He was the son of Bartholomew Doyle and Bridget (née) Nugent. Doyle was baptised in St Catherine's Church, Meath Street on 29 November 1774. He studied drawing under William Waldron, the Master of the

Royal Dublin Society The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) ( ga, Cumann Ríoga Bhaile Átha Cliath) is an Irish philanthropic organisation and members club which was founded as the 'Dublin Society' on 25 June 1731 with the aim to see Ireland thrive culturally and economi ...

's School of Ornamental Drawing. He married Sophia Isabella Norris around 1792. Sophia was a Protestant, which led to Doyle converting upon their marriage. Sophia's mother's maiden name is believed to be Jouanier, and that she was of French Huguenot descent. The couple had three children in Ireland, Cyrus Matthew born on 27 November 1792 or 1793, Louisa born 1795 and Edmund on 16 December 1799.Dublin, St Nicholas Without Parish Reg. 3 34 938 DU-CI-BA-164291 Doyle trained to become a printer by serving as an apprentice with textile printing and calico manufacturing companies, O’Brien, Comerford and Clarke, in Palmerstown, Dublin. After this he began to trade as an engraver and calico printer himself. In the late 1790s Andrew spent a number of periods in jail, for unknown crimes, with some sources claiming that it may have been relating to the

Irish Rebellion of 1798 The Irish Rebellion of 1798 ( ga, Éirí Amach 1798; Ulster-Scots: ''The Hurries'') was a major uprising against British rule in Ireland. The main organising force was the Society of United Irishmen, a republican revolutionary group influence ...

and others refuting it. Doyle was convicted for possession of a forged bank note in 1801 along with his brother James, resulting in him being exiled to Australia, being detained at

Newgate Prison, Dublin Newgate Prison () was a place of detention in Dublin, Ireland. It was initially located at Cornmarket, near Christ Church Cathedral, on the south side of the Liffey and was originally one of the city gates before being moved to a new purpose ...

before being transported. They were transported on the ship 'Rolla', leaving Ireland on 4 November 1802. Doyle arrived, with his wife, on 12 May 1803 along with their four children. The name of Andrew's fourth child is unknown, and is believed to have died in infancy. The family initially lived in Sydney, and later

Toongabbie Toongabbie is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. One of the oldest suburbs in Sydney, Toongabbie is located approximately 30 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is part of the Greater We ...

. Doyle received a pardon in 1806, enabling him to buy land on the Hawkesbury River in 1808 on which he built Ulitedinburra Lodge.

Career

In 1803 Doyle was engaged to draw the native shrubs of the colony for Sir

Joseph Banks Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, (19 June 1820) was an English naturalist, botanist, and patron of the natural sciences. Banks made his name on the 1766 natural-history expedition to Newfoundland and Labrador. He took part in Captain James ...

by Governor

Philip Gidley King Captain Philip Gidley King (23 April 1758 – 3 September 1808) was a British politician who was the third Governor of New South Wales. When the First Fleet arrived in January 1788, King was detailed to colonise Norfolk Island for defence an ...

. The

State Library of New South Wales The State Library of New South Wales, part of which is known as the Mitchell Library, is a large heritage-listed special collections, reference and research library open to the public and is one of the oldest libraries in Australia. Establish ...

holds his watercolour entitled 'Rock Lily' from circa 1820. He gifted Mrs King with a yard of ribbon painted with wildflowers. Doyle served as both a magistrate and a constable.

Later life and family

The couple had two more daughters, Emma Maria, born on 10 April 1804, and Sophia Isabella, born 25 September 1806 at Toongabbie farm. Doyle's sons, John Francis, was born at Ulitedinburra Lodge on 18 January 1809, and John George on 10 November 1811, both went on to become farmers and horse breeders. The wider family were also involved in farming and rearing horses. Doyle died on 2 September 1841 at his home, after a second bout of apoplexy.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Doyle, Andrew Hastings 1774 births 1841 deaths 18th-century Irish painters 19th-century Irish painters Irish male painters Artists from Dublin (city) Converts to Calvinism from Roman Catholicism Irish emigrants to colonial Australia Irish engravers 19th-century Irish male artists