Thomas Archer (pastoralist)

Archer was the son of William Archer and his wife Julia née Walker^[1] and was born in Glasgow, Scotland. When aged three years he was taken to Larvik, Norway. Thomas was one of thirteen children.^[2]

At fourteen (or sixteen^[3]) years of age, Archer and his brother emigrated to Australia, arriving at Sydney on 31 December 1837.^[1] Another brother David had arrived earlier in 1834. Other brothers William and Thomas followed in 1838 and sought land in New South Wales.^[2]

In 1848 to 1849 Thomas Archer left and went to the California goldfields, returned briefly to Queensland and then went to England.^[3] In 1853, he married Grace Lindsay.

By 1880, Archer had returned to London; from 1881 to 1884 and 1884 to 1980 he was agent-general for Queensland.^[1] During this time, he wrote and published The History Resources And Future Prospects of Queensland (London 1881); Queensland: Her History, Resources, And Future Prospects (London, 1882), and Alleged Slavery In Queensland (1883). He also wrote Recollections of a Rambling Life (1897), printed in Yokohama for private circulation, which described his early years in Australia and his experiences in California.^[2]