Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Calvert, Caroline Louisa Waring
CALVERT, CAROLINE LOUISA WARING (1834–1872), generally known as Louisa Atkinson, an Australian author, was born at Oldbury, Argyle County, New South Wales, on 25 Feb. 1834. Her father, James Atkinson, formerly principal clerk in the colonial secretary's office, Sydney, wrote ‘An Account of the State of Agriculture and Grazing in New South Wales,’ with coloured plates, London, 1826, 8vo, and was an early settler on the Hawkesbury. Her mother had some reputation as a writer of educational works for the young. Their daughter being of delicate health, the family removed early to Kurrajong. She described the impression produced on her by the grand scenery and beauty of the flora of the district in ‘A Voice from the Country,’ a series of papers in the ‘Sydney Morning Herald,’ which secured her many literary friendships, and in several popular tales: ‘Gertrude the Emigrant,’ &c., with numerous engravings, Sydney, 1857, 8vo; ‘Cowanda, the Veteran's Grant,’ Sydney, 1859, 8vo, a story of a runaway Manchester clerk; and ‘Tom Hillicker,’ all illustrated by herself. She afterwards published ‘Narratives and Sketches’ in the ‘Sydney Mail’ and ‘Town and Country Journal.’
During her residence at the Kurrajong she collected and prepared valuable botanical specimens for Baron Ferdinand von Müller, the government botanist, who was then producing, in conjunction with George Bentham, ‘Flora Australiensis,’ 7 vols. London, 1863, 8vo, and ‘Fragmenta Phytographiæ Australiæ,’ 4 vols. Melbourne, 1858–64, 8vo. One genus, Atkinsonia, was named after her, as was the species Epacris Calvertiana at a later period. Müller speaks very kindly of her botanical contributions from the Blue Mountains. On leaving the Kurrajong with her mother, she resided in her native district with her brother, James Atkinson, J.P., and there married, 1870, James Snowden Calvert [q. v.] She died suddenly on 28 April 1872. A tablet in Sutton Fields Church, and another (by subscription) in St. Peter's Church, Richmond, tell the story of her pious labours and scientific researches. Her funeral sermon, by the Rev. Dr. Woold, has been printed. Her husband, an Englishman of ‘the Borders,’ settled early in Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham, and emigrated in 1840. Meeting on the voyage to Australia with Dr. Leichardt, he formed a lasting friendship with him, and four years afterwards joined him, with his own outfit and horses, on the first and successful expedition to Queensland. His name is well known in connection with various European exhibitions.
[Barton's Lit. of New South Wales, pp. 111–12; Heaton's Australian Dictionary, p. 32; Baron von Müller's Botanical Works; Atkinson's Agriculture, &c., 1826.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.49
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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| 266 | i | 36 | Calvert, Caroline Louisa W.: for Dr. Woold read Dr. Woolls |