Item 23 - C. Darwin to William Henty

William Henty (1808-1881), the fifth of the nine sons of Thomas Henty (1775-1839) came to Tasmania in 1837 to join his father and brothers who had emigrated earlier. He travelled out with his wife, Susannah Matilda (Camfield), and a baby son who died on the voyage, on board the Fairlie which also carried Lt.Gov. Sir John Franklin and his lady and suite. Having been admitted as a solicitor in England in 1829 and practised in London and Brighton, Sussex, Henty entered into partnership with John Ward Gleadow in Launceston. He was a member of the Legislative Council for Tamar and was Colonial Secretary from 1857 until he left the Colony in 1862. Henty was secretary of the Launceston Horticultural Society and took an active part in church, education and other local affairs and played cricket. He wrote a pamphlet "on improvements in cottage husbandry" (Launceston 1849) suggesting suitable crops such as hemp, millet, mustard, cider, dried fruits. After he left Tasmania in 1862 with his wife and young daughter,Mary,he settled in Brighton, Sussex, U.K., where he took an interest in local charitable institutions, especially a home for blind children. He wrote several articles, including one on the youth of Shakespeare. For more information see : http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/henty-william-2246