John West grew up in England and held several clergy and home missionary appointments prior to offering his services to the Colonial Missionary Society. West arrived in Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land in December 1838, but soon moved to Launceston where, in 1842, he became pastor of St John's Square Chapel. Also in that year, West, together with
James Aikenhead and
Jonathan Stammers Waddell (qq.v.), established the
Launceston Examiner. West assisted, too, in the foundation of a hospital, a cemetery, a mechanics' institute, a school and an insurance company, and campaigned vigorously for the abolition of transportation and against state aid for churches.
West wrote the two-volume work
The History of Tasmania, published in 1852. His entry in the
Australian Dictionary of Biography notes that later researched 'revealed remarkably few inaccuracies' in the history and that 'West is sometimes credited with being one of the founding fathers of Australian historical writing'. West also contributed articles to the
Sydney Morning Herald and was an editorial writer for his own newspaper, the
Launceston Examiner. In 1854, West, a friend of
John Fairfax (q.v.), took up the position of editor at the
Sydney Morning Herald. 'His forthright statements won him friends but also attracted criticism, which in Sydney of that period often degenerated into personal vilification and led to much litigation.'
Source: Australian Dictionary of Biography Online: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/west-john-2784
Sighted: 11/04/2013
