Robert Richardson (1850–1901) was an Australian journalist, poet and writer for children, possibly the first Australian-born children's writer. 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
Sir Peter Nicol Russell (4 July 1816 – 10 July 1905), commonly referred to as P. N. Russell, was an Australian foundry owner, manufacturing engineer, and benefactor of the University of Sydney.
Russell worked at iron foundries owned by his fa ...
.
Richardson completed a B.A. at the
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's si ...
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.
["The Late Mr Robert Richardson" ''Evening News'', 5 October 1901, p4]
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He left Australia for a life in Edinburgh in 1886 before returning to Sydney around 1894. He died in Armidale on 4 October 1901.
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
{{DEFAULTSORT:Richardson, Robert
Australian poets
Australian children's writers
1850 births
1901 deaths