Francis Hixson (8 January 1833 – 2 March 1909)
worked as a Royal Navy officer in colonial
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
and the Pacific. He was also superintendent of pilots, lighthouses, and harbours in New South Wales.
Hixson was a native of
Dorsetshire
Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset. Covering an area of , Do ...
, England, and, entering the Royal Navy, arrived at
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
in H.M.S. ''Havannah'' in 1848. When the ''Havannah'' was paid off, in 1852, he was appointed to the ''Herald'', and when that vessel left Australian waters, in 1861, he was employed as chief assistant, to Commander Sidney in the survey of the coasts of New South Wales.
[ In January 1863 he left the navy, having reached the rank of "master," and was appointed superintendent of pilots, lighthouses, and harbours in New South Wales. In the same year he organised the New South Wales Naval Brigade, which he commanded for many years. He was appointed President of the Marine Board of that colony in April 1872, and was Captain commanding the Naval Forces.
Captain Hixson married in 1861 Sarah, second daughter of the Hon. Francis Lord, of New South Wales.][ Two of their daughters married into the Fairfax family,][ publishers of the '']Sydney Morning Herald
''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper i ...
''.
Hixson died at his residence in , Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hixson, Francis
1833 births
1909 deaths
Royal Navy officers
19th-century Australian public servants