Living in Western Australia between 1841-1846, Edward Willson Landor returned to England at the end of that period then later re-settled in Perth (WA) in 1859.
Described as a poet, essayist and journalist, Landor is best known for his autobiographical work, The Bushman; or, Life in a New Country (1847), a satirical account of his impressions of Western Australia. Landor also wrote under the pseudonym of 'Colonicus' and held the position of editor at the Perth Gazette.
A barrister, court commissioner and J. P., Landor became a Police Magistrate of the colony but due to a 'charge of partiality' was suspended from office in 1872. His suspension stemmed from a case whereby a 'white killer of a wild native' was committed for trial and, as opposed to being charged with murder, the accused was indicted on the lesser charge of 'shooting with intent to commit bodily harm'. Landor's defence to the charge of partiality is documented in The Case of E. W. Landor, Esq., J. P., Police Magistrate, Western Australia [1872], a rare pamphlet which is held by four libraries in Australia. (Ferguson, Bibliography of Australia : Volume IV : 1846-1850, 1955.)
He was a member of the Swan River Mechanics Institute.
