Biography George Shenton Sr.

1 biography

1.1 life
1.2 adult life in australia
1.3 philanthropy
1.4 personal life , death

biography
early life

george shenton born in winchester, england on 2 january 1811. second of 4 sons of wealthy silk manufacturer. @ age of fifteen, apprenticed pharmacist named william bilton. bilton , family wesleyans, , during apprenticeship shenton became wesleyan himself. in 1832, @ age of 21, migrated swan river colony. decision leave england sudden, , appears have been result of falling-out between shenton , bilton. shenton s cousin william kernot shenton had been in colony since 1829, , influenced decision.

adult life in australia

he arrived in swan river colony in january 1833. had substantial amount of family money him, , there evidence suggest put immediate use in aiding cousin, in financial difficulties. shortly after george shenton s arrival, william kernot shenton obtained 4 , half acres of land @ point belches (now mill point), south perth , began construction of mill. mill began operation in august under company name w.k.shenton & company. george shenton involved in running of mill, @ mill, alone, in april 1834, when mill raided large party of aborigines led calyute, stole half ton of flour. in 1835, construction of new mill began. fate of original mill unknown, new mill stands today; known old mill, perth s best-known historic landmark.

in may 1838, opened business perth s first chemist. business successful, , in september moved larger premises. having consolidated pharmacy business, began diversify, importing clothing, household goods, furniture, , there demand. became involved in banking, becoming director of western australian bank on establishment in 1841. meanwhile, continued work pharmacist, taking on edmund birch apprentice in 1845. in 1845, became involved in export of jarrah , sandalwood, , began investigate possibility of mining , exporting natural resources such copper, lead , coal. in 1848, joined anthony o grady lefroy , robert habgood in establishment of geraldine mining company, mine seam of galena had been discovered in champion bay district augustus gregory.

philanthropy

he gave strong support wesleyan church throughout life in colony. 1841 secretary of wesleyan committee, , member of wesley church building committee. donated both money , medicine church , missions.

personal life , death

on 29 november 1838, married annie catherine cousins; have thirteen children.

he died on 5 march 1867, when schooner, lass of geraldton, capsized off mandurah in storm. financial affairs taken on eldest son george, himself became 1 of prominent merchants in western australia, mayor of perth, , member of western australian legislative council. son prominent perth businessman, ernest chawner shenton later ran business renamed e. c. shenton , co.