Thomas Gabriel Read (21 August 1825 – 31 October 1894) was a gold prospector and farmer. His discovery of gold in Gabriel's Gully triggered the first major gold rush in New Zealand.
Read was born on 21 August 1825 in Tasmania, Australia.[1] The eldest of ten children, his father was businessman and banker George Frederick Read and his mother, Margaret Terry, was the daughter of a miller and the senior Read's second wife.
After working on the goldfields of California and Victoria in the 1850s, Read travelled to Otago, New Zealand, on board the Don Pedro II, having heard rumours in September 1860 of gold being found in Mataura, Southland. He arrived in Otago in February 1861. On 25 May 1861,[1] he discovered gold close to the banks of the Tuapeka River in Otago, at Gabriel's Gully, which is named after him. Read wrote to Otago Superintendent John Richardson on 4 June to confirm the discovery,[2] which led to the Otago Gold Rush.[3] The Otago Provincial Council awarded Read £1000, having earlier advertised a £500 reward for "the discovery of a Remunerative Goldfield within the Province of Otago", even though an Indian man, Edward Peters, was the discoverer of the first workable gold field in Otago in 1858 and had two applications rejected.[4]
In 1864, Read returned to Tasmania with his £1000 windfall; he invested £155 of this to purchase Smooth Island. In 1869, he married his cousin, Amelia Mitchell (née Wilson); they remained childless. Read was admitted to the New Norfolk Hospital for the Insane in Hobart in April 1887, suffering from bipolar disorder. He remained at that hospital until his death on 31 October 1894 aged 69. The cause of death was apoplexy.[3] He was buried in an unmarked grave in New Norfolk.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abc"Turning up treasures for biography". Otago Daily Times. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
^Kellaway, Roger. "Tasmania and the Otalgo Gold Rush 1861–1865" (PDF). Retrieved 5 June 2020.
^Conway, Glenn (11 April 2009). "Striking it unlucky in the gold fields". Otago Daily Times.
Further readingedit
McCraw, Ernie (2010). Gabriel Read of Gabriel's Gully. Tuapeka Goldfields Museum Society. viii, 152 p. ISBN978-0-47318-513-8 A comprehensive history of Gabriel's Gully and Gabriel Read
External linksedit
Gabriel Read in 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand
Biography of Thomas Gabriel Read, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
December 20, 2023
gabriel, read, zealand, actor, gabriel, reid, thomas, august, 1825, october, 1894, gold, prospector, farmer, discovery, gold, gabriel, gully, triggered, first, major, gold, rush, zealand, born21, august, 1825, tasmania, died31, october, 1894, aged, royal, derw. For the New Zealand actor see Gabriel Reid Thomas Gabriel Read 21 August 1825 31 October 1894 was a gold prospector and farmer His discovery of gold in Gabriel s Gully triggered the first major gold rush in New Zealand Gabriel ReadBorn21 August 1825 Tasmania Died31 October 1894 aged 69 Royal Derwent Hospital OccupationFarmer gold miner Contents 1 Life 2 References 3 Further reading 4 External linksLife editRead was born on 21 August 1825 in Tasmania Australia 1 The eldest of ten children his father was businessman and banker George Frederick Read and his mother Margaret Terry was the daughter of a miller and the senior Read s second wife After working on the goldfields of California and Victoria in the 1850s Read travelled to Otago New Zealand on board the Don Pedro II having heard rumours in September 1860 of gold being found in Mataura Southland He arrived in Otago in February 1861 On 25 May 1861 1 he discovered gold close to the banks of the Tuapeka River in Otago at Gabriel s Gully which is named after him Read wrote to Otago Superintendent John Richardson on 4 June to confirm the discovery 2 which led to the Otago Gold Rush 3 The Otago Provincial Council awarded Read 1000 having earlier advertised a 500 reward for the discovery of a Remunerative Goldfield within the Province of Otago even though an Indian man Edward Peters was the discoverer of the first workable gold field in Otago in 1858 and had two applications rejected 4 In 1864 Read returned to Tasmania with his 1000 windfall he invested 155 of this to purchase Smooth Island In 1869 he married his cousin Amelia Mitchell nee Wilson they remained childless Read was admitted to the New Norfolk Hospital for the Insane in Hobart in April 1887 suffering from bipolar disorder He remained at that hospital until his death on 31 October 1894 aged 69 The cause of death was apoplexy 3 He was buried in an unmarked grave in New Norfolk 1 References edit a b c Turning up treasures for biography Otago Daily Times 23 January 2009 Retrieved 19 August 2019 Kellaway Roger Tasmania and the Otalgo Gold Rush 1861 1865 PDF Retrieved 5 June 2020 a b Hearn T J Thomas Gabriel Read Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Ministry for Culture and Heritage Retrieved 23 April 2017 Conway Glenn 11 April 2009 Striking it unlucky in the gold fields Otago Daily Times Further reading editMcCraw Ernie 2010 Gabriel Read of Gabriel s Gully Tuapeka Goldfields Museum Society viii 152 p ISBN 978 0 47318 513 8 A comprehensive history of Gabriel s Gully and Gabriel ReadExternal links editGabriel Read in 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand Dunedin s Golden History Gabriel Read and the Otago Gold Rush on DCC website Biography of Thomas Gabriel Read Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gabriel Read amp oldid 1176902432, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
