• Title
  [John Harris, Surgeon, ca 1790-1805] / by unknown artist
• Call number
  MIN 433
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  ca 1790-1805
• Type of material
  Graphic Materials, Drawings
• Reference code
  843846
• Issue Copy
  Digitised
• Physical Description
  1 drawing - watercolour on card, in original wood frame - 7 x 5.5 cm (sight) in frame 13.3 x 11.6 cm
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  Surgeon John Harris (1754-1838) was a member of the Royal Navy and the NSW Corps. He was appointed surgeon's mate in the New South Wales Corps in 1789 and promoted surgeon in 1792. He arrived in New South Wales in the Surprize in June 1790 and was posted to Parramatta. In 1793 he was granted 100 acres of land at Parramatta. He bought the property, Experiment Farm, from James Ruse. He served as a magistrate in the colony, accompanied Barralier exploring the Hunter River in 1801 and was one of the first directors elected to the Bank of NSW. At his death in 1838 he had extensive landholdings in Parramatta, Ultimo and Five Dock.
  
  He returned to England, aged 56, in 1810, to give evidence in the court martial of George Johnston for his role in the Rum Rebellion, and also visited his family in Ireland. He married, and returned to Australia in 1814.
  
  Reference:
  Australian Dictionary of Biography Online http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/ (accessed January 2009)
  Library correspondence file
• Collection history
  By descent to Helen Ekin from her husband, Hugh. Given to Hugh by his grandparents, Hugh Ekin and Minnie Harris. Hugh and Minnie were first cousins and both descendants of John and Ann Harris of Moneymore, County Londonderry, Ireland. John and Ann’s sons were Surgeon John Harris, and also George, William and Robert Harris. Hugh Ekin is descended from William Harris whose daughter was Eliza Ekin, nee Harris; and from Robert Harris from whom Minnie Harris is descended. Reference: Library correspondence file
• Scope and Content
  Shows Harris probably aged in his forties, wearing a black coat and white shirt.
• Access Conditions
  
  Access via appointment
• General note
  
  This work is not signed, titled or dated. Date is derived from approximate age and costume of sitter.
  Digital order no:Album ID : 874366
• Signatures / Inscriptions
  
  Unsigned
• Conservation note
  
  In 1961, the miniature was damaged by antiseptic accidentally spilled on the painting. The surface of the painting was smeared when the fluid was wiped away. Restoration worked was carried out in 1963 by Mr Setelik, State Library of NSW.
• Name
  Harris, John, 1754-1838
  
• Subject
  Miniature painting.
  Art, Colonial--Australia.
  
• Topic
  miniatures
  portraits
  
• Open Rosetta viewer
  IE3267834

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