John Baptist Austin
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John Baptist Austin | |
|---|---|
 Photograph of John Baptist Austin, c.1870 | |
| Born | 1799 |
| Died | 1882 (aged 82–83) |
| Occupations | schoolmaster, minister |
| Title | The Reverend |
John Baptist Austin III (1799–1882)[1] was an English schoolmaster and minister. He emigrated in 1843 and settled in South Australia.
His father was the surgeon John Baptist Austin II: a family tradition held that he had been called to attend in 1797 after Mary Lamb's fatal stabbing of her mother Elizabeth.[2] He was in a druggist partnership with Robert Saddington, based at Tower Royal, near the junction of Cannon Street and Watling Street: it was dissolved in 1808.[3] In 1810 he was made bankrupt, as a druggist in Kentish Town.[4] He was later based in New Alresford, Hampshire, and partnered another surgeon, William Winter. That partnership was dissolved in 1827.[5] He had 16 children, the youngest being born c.1822.[2]
Early life
Austin was born on Christmas Day 1799, in Hertford.[6] He was educated at Merchant Taylors School, London, from 1809.[7] He left before he turned 14. He was apprenticed to the surgeon James Scott of Bromley. Going into business himself in London as a surgeon, he attracted the attention of George Birkbeck, who helped him find work as a lecturer.[6] He maintained an interest in the work of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.[8]
Around 1827 Austin moved to Hastings, where he set up a school.[6] His pupils included Henry John Congreve and his brother William. He sent them a South Australian newspaper, which had a direct bearing on Harry Congreve's decision to emigrate later himself.[9] Isaac Todhunter became a noted pupil, and then an usher in the school. He moved to Austin's school on the recommendation of the Rev. William Davis, a minister with a chapel in Hastings.[8] Another pupil was John Eyre Ashby, who went on to become a Congregationalist minister.[10][11][12]
Accompanied by Isaac Todhunter, Austin moved his school to Peckham, then a village south of London, around 1835. He adopted the name "Goldsmith House" for it, playing on the episode in the early history of Oliver Goldsmith during which he was usher at the Peckham Presbyterian academy of the terminally ill Dr John Milner (1688–1757).[8][13]
Austin began preaching at Guestling, near Hastings. After he moved to London, he became involved in the Christian Instruction Society of the mid-1830s. It was a branch of the Congregationalists concerned to supply preaching in areas on the outskirts of London.[6][14] It led to the building of a chapel at Nun Green, Peckham Rye, (now known as Nunhead Green), opened in 1836, where Austin was ordained minister around 1837.[6][15]