 |
Adam Lindsay GordonAustralian poet and politician.
Date of Birth: 19.10.1833
Country:  Australia |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Emigration to Australia
- Literary Career
- Personal Struggles
- Bush Ballads and Suicide
Early Life and Education
Adam Lindsay Gordon was born on the island of Faial in the Azores on October 19th, 1833. His father, Captain Adam Durnford Gordon, was a Royal Navy officer. His mother, Harriet, was his father's cousin. Gordon's childhood was spent on the island of Madeira and in England, where the family lived in Cheltenham until 1840.
In 1848, Gordon entered the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich in London. He excelled in sports but struggled academically and with discipline. He was expelled in 1852 and returned to Cheltenham School.
Emigration to Australia
In 1853, Gordon's father sent him to Australia. He arrived in Adelaide on August 7th, 1853 and joined the Mounted Police. He resigned from the police in 1855 and became a successful horse trainer.
Literary Career
Gordon's literary career began in 1864 with the publication of his poem "The Feud." In 1865, he was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly. He published several volumes of poetry, including "Ashtaroth, a Dramatic Lyric" (1867) and "Sea Spray and Smoke Drift" (1867).
Personal Struggles
Gordon's financial and personal struggles intensified in the late 1860s. He suffered from poor eyesight and depression. In 1870, he fell from a horse and sustained a serious head injury.
Bush Ballads and Suicide
Gordon's last book, "Bush Ballads and Galloping Rhymes," was published on June 23rd, 1870. Despite receiving little critical attention at the time, it is now considered a classic of Australian literature.
On June 24th, 1870, Gordon committed suicide by shooting himself at his home in Victoria. He was buried in Brighton Cemetery.
