| Creator: |
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| Date of birth: |
1816 |
| Place of birth: |
Peebleshire |
| Date of death: |
1865 |
| Biography: |
Daniel Ritchie was born Blyth Peeblesshire Scotland in 1816, the fifth child of James Ritchie and Lillias Linton. He attended Edinburgh University where he graduated as a doctor of Medicine and then joined the Royal Navy as a Surgeon His tours of duty during this time took him to the West Indies (combating the slave trade), the Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea (during the Crimean War) and the penal settlements at Hobart and Fremantle, an experience that lead to him becoming a major critic of the transportation of prisoners and he wrote several essays criticising the system. Upon the death of his brother James in 1857, Daniel and his newly married wife Janet Roy sailed to Australia to take over the management of James' property "Blackwood" in Western Victoria. Daniel expanded "Blackwood" and became active in the community becoming President of the Mount Rousse Shire and was influential in the establishment of the first Presbyterian church and State School in the area. Daniel and Janet had 5 children and he died whilst visiting Scotland in 1865. |
| Activities/Occupation: |
Naval officers, Graziers, Medical practitioners |
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