natural history painter and pastoralist, was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, on 5 October 1823, a younger brother of George French Angas . Educated by tutors, at various schools and, briefly, at the University of London, he joined his father’s company in 1841. Sent to South Australia to manage the family properties, he arrived at Adelaide in the Madras in September 1843. After 10 years hard and successful work, he returned to England in 1854. On 10 May 1855 he married Susanna Collins; they sailed for South Australia later that year. From 1856 Angas established prosperous stations in the Barossa area and became a prominent prize-winning stud-breeder, raising cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and donkeys. A new house at Angaston, called Collingrove, was designed by his brother-in-law, Henry Evans, in the mid 1850s. Over the following 30 years the family made frequent visits to England; their two children were born there in the early 1860s. Angas was elected member for the Barossa district in 1871 but resigned from the House of Assembly in 1876. He was a Member of the Legislative Council from 1887 to 1894. A strict Congregationalist, he gave much to charity, including £44,000 to Dr Barnardo’s Homes. He died at Collingrove on 17 May 1904, leaving an estate worth £800,000.
According to Moore, John Howard Angas 'was skilful in painting the forms of birds, insects, and flowers’, but no surviving work is known. Under the pen-name 'Agricola’, it is probable that he wrote the text for his brother’s book, Description of the Barossa Range … (London 1849).
Exhibited in the Melbourne Centennial International Exhibition 1888-89, South Australian Court, Class 2 [Various paintings and drawings] cat. no.22 Four water-colour drawings of cattle, horses and shee
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- Staff Writer
Note:
- Date written:
- 1992
- Last updated:
- 1989
