Guide to the Papers of Sir William Thomas Denison (as filmed by the AJCP), 1846-1864

Summary

Collection number:

M606-M607, M671

Creator:

Denison, William Thomas, Sir

Extent:

9 items

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project. Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February-23 September 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference.

Background

Content Summary:

The Australian Joint Copying Project filmed correspondence of Sir William and Lady Caroline Denison.

Many of the letters are on official subjects although they are marked private. Correspondence (1856-1857) relates to the settlements on Norfolk Island and at Moreton Bay, A.C. Gregory's expedition to North Australia, legal tender in the colony and the political situation. In addition, there are letter dated 1856 from Reverend George Hobbs and G.M. Frederick Young and a letter 1857 from an unknown correspondent describing Norfolk Island.

Correspondence received from Lord Grey, Sir Charles Wood and Lord Canning is also present. The correspondence of Lady Caroline Denison (1855-1859) mainly discusses domestic events.

The Journal September-October 1857 centres on a trip to Norfolk Island containing Denison's impressions of the island and its inhabitants, as well as recording day-to-day events.

Biographical / Historical:

William Thomas Denison (1804-1871) was born in London and attended Eton and the Royal Military College. He graduated in 1826 as a lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. He served in Canada and later worked on harbour defences in southern England. In 1838 he married Caroline Hornby and they had six sons and four daughters. He was promoted to the rank of captain in 1841.

In 1846, following the dismissal of Sir John Eardley-Wilmot, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land. He was knighted in the same year and awarded a KCB in 1856. He arrived in the colony in January 1847 and held the office for eight years. A strong supporter of the continuance of convict transportation, he clashed with the nominated Legislative Council and two of the judges. The publication of some of his despatches, criticising the colonists generally, added to his unpopularity. His powers were reduced following the creation of an elected Legislative Council in 1850 and, with the cessation of transportation, his later years in Tasmania were more harmonious. In January 1855 Denison was appointed Governor of New South Wales and was given the additional title of 'Governor-General of Australia'. Prompted by the Crimean War, he immediately reorganised the defences of Sydney Harbour. He presided over the introduction of responsible government in the colony in 1856 and had to deal with considerable political instability, with three ministries formed in the first year. He dealt with the separation of Moreton Bay to form the new colony of Queensland in 1859 and appointed its first Legislative Council. He ended the penal colony on Norfolk Island and arranged the transfer of the Pitcairn Islanders to Norfolk Island in. He visited Norfolk Island on two occasions.

Denison left Sydney in January 1861 following his appointment as Governor of Madras. He acted as Governor-General of India for two months in 1863. He returned to England in 1866.

Related

Existence and Location of Copies:

The original AJCP microfilm of the records filmed from this collection is available at the National Library of Australia [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn7896689] as well as other institutions holding AJCP microfilm.

Existence and Location of Originals:

Filmed at the private residence of Col. W.M.W. Denison; Newark, Nottinghamshire. The papers filmed on reel M671 are now held by the National Library of Australia (MS 1957).

For more information see: William Thomas Denison at the National Library of Australia.

Conditions Governing Access:

Available for Access.

Conditions Governing Use:

Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.

Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project. Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February-23 September 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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