Henry Wills Rischbieth
Born(1870-01-26)January 26, 1870
Glenelg, South Australia
DiedMarch 27, 1925(1925-03-27) (aged 55)
London
NationalityBritish Subject

Henry Wills Rischbieth (26 January 1870, Glenelg, South Australia – 27 March 1925, London, England) was a prominent[1] Australian grazier and wool merchant, described as "one of Western Australia's best known and enterprising businessmen."[2]

He was the husband of Bessie Rischbieth, a South Australian feminist, social activist, and campaigner for women's rights.

Early life and education

Rischbieth was born in Glenelg in the colony of South Australia to Charles Rischbieth, a Hanover-born merchant and business leader, and Elizabeth Susan Wills. He studied at Prince Alfred College.[3]

A noted athlete in his youth, Rischbieth played Australian Rules Football for Norwood.[1][4] While in England, he also played rugby, representing the North of England in a match against Scotland.[5]

Career

Rischbieth learned the wool business during an extended visit to Bradford, England.[2] After returning to Australia, he moved to Western Australia in 1899,[6]: 153  settled in Peppermint Grove, and built Henry Wills & Co., a large grazing and wool business.[7]: 55  Rischbieth died in 1925 in London,[1] worth approximately 300,000 pounds.[3] He had been ill for some time and had sought medical treatment in Melbourne, Philadelphia, USA,[8] and finally England.[1]

Family

Rischbieth married Bessie Mabel Earle at the Wesleyan Church in Kent Town[9]: 85  on 22 October 1898,[10]: 319  who became a prominent social reformer and advocate for women's rights. The couple did not have children.[11]

His father was businessman and colonist Charles Rischbieth. His cousin Oswald Rishbeth was a pioneer of academic geography in Britain.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Death of Mr. H. W. Rischbieth: A Prominent Colonist", The West Australian, Sat 28 Mar 1925.
  2. 1 2 "MR. H. W. RISCHBIETH: DEATH IN LONDON, PASSING OF A PROMINENT MAN", The Daily News, Fri 27 Mar 1925, p. 10
  3. 1 2 "Obituary - Henry Wills Rischbieth". Obituaries Australia. 16 September 1925. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  4. ↑ Henry Wills (Harry) Roland Rischbieth, Redlegs Museum: History of the Norwood Football Club, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Mr. Rischbieth Dead: A Public-spirited Citizen", Western Mail, Thu 2 Apr 1925, p. 16.
  6. ↑ Erickson, Dorothy, "Gold & Silversmithing in Western Australia: A History", UWA Publishing 2010.
  7. ↑ Firkins, Peter C., "A History of commerce and industry in Western Australia", University of Western Australia Press for the Education Committee of the 150th Anniversary Celebrations, 1979.
  8. ↑ "The Late Mr. Henry W. Rischbieth", The Dawn, Thu 16 Apr 1925., p. 1.
  9. ↑ Australian Cultural History, Issue 23, Australian Academy of the Humanities and the History of Ideas Unit, ANU, 2004.
  10. ↑ Bevege, Margaret, Margaret James, and Carmel Shute, "Worth her salt: women at work in Australia", Hale & Iremonger, 1982.
  11. ↑ June Ogilvie, Westralian Portraits, edited by L. Hunt 1979 pp 214-21.
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