Description

Extended Data

Birth Place

Northumberland, England, UK

Biography

watercolour painter and politician, was born in Northumberland, England, son of John Gregson, squire of Lowlynn. In March 1821 he arrived at Hobart Town with his wife Elizabeth and they eventually settled at Restdown, East Risdon. In order to indulge his interest in politics, Gregson launched his own newspaper, the Colonist ('the Journal of the People’), in 1832. Appointed to the Legislative Council in 1843, he was particularly concerned with immigration, education and the abolition of transportation. He was Premier for two months from March 1857. Although characterised as 'turbulent and vituperative’, Gregson was continuously elected a member of the Legislative Assembly until 1872. He died at Risdon on 4 January 1874. Risdon Cove, near his home, was the site of the foundation of European settlement in Van Diemen’s Land and Gregson painted a watercolour reconstructing the arrival there of Lieutenant Bowen and his party (Crowther Library). He showed his landscape painting 'after Hobbema’ in the Exhibition of Paintings, Engravings, and Watercolour Drawings held at Hobart Town in 1846. When a photograph of an equestrian portrait of Rev. Robert Knopwood, the first Anglican chaplain of Van Diemen’s Land, was exhibited at the Old Hobart Exhibition in 1896 the catalogue stated that the original was a composite work, the portrait of the parson having been done by Gregson, the dog and the pony by J.W. Graves and the landscape by Frank Dunnett , while the photograph had been taken by Morton Allport . Since Knopwood had died in 1838 and Dunnett was not in the colony until 1856, the background (at least) must have been added later, although Gregson’s portrait could have been done in the parson’s lifetime. Several versions of the painting survive (Dixson Galleries; Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery; Bishopscourt, Hobart). Writers: Staff Writer Date written: 1992 Last updated: 2011

Born

b. 1798

Summary

Watercolour painter and politician, settled in Risdon Cove which was the site of the foundation of European settlement in Van Diemen's Land. Gregson launched his own newspaper, the 'Colonist' ('the Journal of the People'), in 1832.

Gender

Male

Died

4 January 1874

Age at death

76