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DICTIONARY OF AUSTRALASIAN BIOGRAPHY.
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and honourably defrayed all the liabilities which he had left when he emigrated thirteen years before. His old townsmen recognised his sterling qualities, and gave him a most cordial reception. Returning to Sydney in 1853, Mr. Fairfax purchased the share of his partner, Mr. Kemp, and became the sole owner of his paper, which since August 1st, 1842, had assumed the name of the Sydney Morning Herald. In 1867 Mr. Charles Fairfax was taken into partnership, and on the accidental death of his eldest son, Mr. John Fairfax admitted his younger sons—Mr. James Reading Fairfax and Mr. Edward Ross Fairfax. Under their management the paper acquired an undisputed precedence in New South Wales. Mr. John Fairfax again visited England in 1863, and utilised his leisure to familiarise himself with all the latest phases of newspaper management, with the result that his own journals were always in possession of the most modern machinery and equipments. In the political struggles of his day Mr. Fairfax took little personal part. He once sought election to the Legislative Assembly, and was defeated; but in 1874 he was nominated to a seat in the Legislative Council. He was a devoutly religious man, and throughout his career was a prominent member and a most generous supporter of the Congregational body. In 1840 he was chosen as a deacon of the Pitt Street Congregational Church, in Sydney, and took a deep interest in its welfare until his death, which took place at his residence, Ginahgulla, Bose Bay, Port Jackson, June 16th, 1877. His two sons conducted the Herald, and its powerful adjuncts, the Mail and Echo, until 1888, when Mr. E. R. Fairfax withdrew from the partnership. Mr. J. R. Fairfax then admitted his sons—Messrs. Charles Geoffrey and James Fairfax, jun.—into the partnership, and as he only exercises a supervising influence himself, the control of the journals is virtually vested in them.

Farjeon, Benjamin Leopold, the well-known writer, went to Australia in early life, and, after some experience on the gold diggings of Victoria, migrated to New Zealand, where he assisted Mr. (now Sir Julius) Vogel in starting the Otago Daily Times at Dunedin in 1861, the former being editor, and the latter business manager. Subsequently Mr. Farjeon took to literature, and married a daughter of Joseph Jefferson, the celebrated American actor. His successful career as a story-writer since his return to England is well known.

Farnell, Hon. James Squire, was born in 1827 at Parramatta, N.S.W. In 1859 he was elected to the Assembly for St. Leonard's, and in the following year for Parramatta. Subsequently he again sat for St. Leonard's. Having acted for some time as Chairman of Committees, he was Secretary for Lands in the Parkes Government from May 1872 to Feb. 1875. In Dec 1877, on the defeat of Sir John Robertson, he became Premier of the colony of New South Wales, with the portfolio of Minister of Lands. Failing, however, to carry his Land Bill, he resigned in Dec. 1878. He was again Secretary for Lands in the Stuart Government from Jan. 1883 to Oct. 1885, and was appointed Minister of Justice in the Dibbs Ministry which followed, but he almost immediately resigned. Mr. Farnell, who was first Grand Master of the New South Wales Constitution of Freemasons, died on August 21st, 1888.

Farr, Ven. Archdeacon George Henry, M.A., LL.D., son of George Farr and Eleanora his wife, was born on July 2nd, 1819, at Tottenham, England, and educated at Christ's Hospital, where he was "Grecian," and at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1843 and M.A. in 1853. He entered at the Middle Temple in 1841, but was ordained deacon in 1844 and priest in 1845, and was Diocesan Inspector of Schools in West Cornwall. He emigrated in 1854 to South Australia, where he was head master of St. Peter's Collegiate School, Adelaide, from that year till 1879. He was appointed Canon of the Cathedral Church of Adelaide in 1857, and Archdeacon of Missionary Districts in the Diocese of Adelaide in 1880. He took the degree of LL.D. at Cambridge University in 1882; and in connection with the University of Adelaide was made M.A. in 1877, Warden of the Senate in 1880, LL.D. in 1883, and was twice elected Vice-Chancellor—viz., in 1888 and 1889. Archdeacon Farr, who was captain and stroke of his college eight when at Cambridge and winner of a silver medal at the Thames Regatta in 1843, was

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