sketcher, soldier and governor, was born on 21 July 1795 in Devon, England, only child of Samuel Gawler and Julia, née Russell. He had an active military career with the 52nd Regiment during the Napoleonic Wars, then, after a serious illness, became converted to evangelical Christianity. He and Maria, née Cox, whom he married in 1820, devoted themselves to good works. He resigned his commission as lieutenant-colonel in 1834. In 1838 Colonel Gawler was appointed governor of South Australia to replace Governor Hindmarsh; he arrived at Adelaide with his wife and family in the Pestonjee Bomanjee on 12 October. Recalled on 15 May 1841, he died at Southsea, Hampshire, on 7 May 1869.
A hand-coloured lithograph of J. Barton Hack’s farm, Echunga Springs, Mount Barker, South Australia, lithographed by J. Hitchen and published by J.C. Hailes in London about 1840, is stated to be 'From a sketch by Col. Gawler’ on the print although any sketch was worked up by G.F. Angas. Hack had spent some £17 000 on Echunga Springs and it was one of the showpieces of the colony, visual justification for Gawler of his increasingly criticised lavish spending of government funds to attract wealthy settlers. Nevertheless, despite there being every reason for such a sketch to be in his possession, it is unlikely that Gawler actually drew it.
- Writers:
- Staff Writer
- Date written:
- 1992
- Last updated:
- 2011
