sketcher and public servant, was born in Scotland, son of John Sercold Jackson, a major in the 72nd Regiment. He came to Sydney with his parents and numerous siblings in 1825 and was employed as a draughtsman in the New South Wales Surveyor-General’s Department. In 1831 he settled in Van Diemen’s Land, where he ran two properties as well as editing the Launceston Advertiser from about 1833. He claimed in 1839 to have been associated with the Launceston press for 10 years. Jackson married Maria Anne Walker at Vron, Norfolk Plains, on 24 March 1834.

Governor Gawler invited Jackson to South Australia in 1839 to become Colonial Treasurer. Being simultaneously a director of the Adelaide branch of the Bank of Australasia led to accusations of conflict of interest, so Jackson became Colonial Secretary in 1841. He was a founding member of the South Australian Subscription Library in 1842. Jackson resigned as colonial secretary in June 1843 and left for England to clear himself of charges of financial improprieties and incompetence. He returned to Sydney early in 1846. In June he went back to Launceston, where he was appointed the London agent for Van Diemen’s Land. He sailed from Sydney for London in the Penyard Park in December 1846, arriving on 3 April 1847. There he was invited to represent South Australian interests also. He published several influential pamphlets on colonial issues in London. Although no longer resident in South Australia, a sketch by Jackson was exhibited in the 1847 Exhibition of Colonial Artists at Adelaide. The South Australian Register labelled it 'a beautiful little water-colour drawing’. Jackson’s agency work ceased in 1853 and he returned to Melbourne as colonial inspector of the English, Scottish & Australian Bank (1853-72). He died at Ealing, near London, on 25 May 1885.

Writers:

Staff Writer

Date written:

1992

Last updated:

2011