The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Dicken, Charles Shortt
Dicken, Charles Shortt, C.M.G., F.R.G.S., second surviving son of late William Stephens Dicken, M.D., Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals, Bengal, and Catherine Lamb, his wife, youngest daughter of Captain Joseph Lamb Popham, R.N., and niece of Admiral Sir Home Popham, was born Sept. 18th, 1841, at Balasore, India, and educated at the Charterhouse. Entered the army as ensign 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers, July 1859; lieutenant 1861; first-class certificate School of Musketry, Hythe, Nov. 1861; retired in 1864, by the sale of commission, for the purpose of settling in Queensland. Arrived in Brisbane in August of that year, and at once proceeded north to Port Denison, and thence to the Suttor River, where he was engaged on a cattle station till shortly before he entered the native mounted police, in June 1866. In Oct. 1867 he was appointed clerk of petty sessions at Springsure; police magistrate, Springsure, July 1872; Gold Commissioner and police magistrate, Ravenswood, July 1874; police magistrate and Gold Fields Warden, Charters Towers, May 1875; police magistrate, Townsville, Dec. 1878 to May 1880, when he was appointed secretary in the office of the Agent-General for Queensland, in London, which position he still holds. Student Middle Temple, Nov. 20th, 1880. Called to the bar June 6th, 1883. Hon. Secretary to the Queensland Commission in London, Colonial and Indian Exhibition, 1866; is a magistrate of Queensland, and Captain (unattached) in the Defence Force. Married, August 25th, 1875, in Sydney, Emily Augusta, eldest daughter of the late Charles William Sheridan, of Becauba Station, Castlereagh River, New South Wales. In May 1891 he was created C.M.G.