Australian Dictionary of Biography

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.

Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context.

The Australian Dictionary of Biography is Australia's pre-eminent dictionary of national biography. In it you will find concise, informative and fascinating descriptions of the lives of significant and representative persons in Australian history.

See what distinguished Australians are saying about the ADB.

The ADB is produced by the National Centre of Biography at the Australian National University.


* *Proposed ADB entries for people who died 1991-2000* *

Feature Article

Sir George Ferguson Bowen (1821–1899)

Sir George Ferguson Bowen

Sir George Ferguson Bowen (1821-1899), governor, was born on 2 November 1821 in Ireland, the eldest son of Edward Bowen, rector of Taughboyne, County Donegal. He went to Charterhouse, won a scholarship to Trinity College, Oxford, where he was twice president of the union and took first-class honours in classics (B.A., 1844; M.A., 1847), and began to read law at Lincoln's Inn. In 1846 he had some naval training, serving for sixteen days in the Victory. In 1847-51 he was rector of the Ionian University...

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What’s New

1996 Entries

Browse through the list of articles for people who died in 1996

28 August 2021

Biographical Dictionary of the House of Representatives

Biographical Dictionary of the House of Representatives project: Lives of the Men and Women of the House
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29 March 2021

ADB volume 19

ADB volume 19 published
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17 December 2020

Biography Footnotes

Biography Footnotes, no. 21
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Born This Day

David Lomas Davidson (1893–1952)

David Lomas Davidson (1893-1952), town planner, was born on 7 July 1893 in Sydney, eldest son of native-born parents George Thom Davidson, police constable, and his wife Florence, née Taunton. Said to...

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