CALVERT, CAROLINE LOUISA WARING (18341872)

was born at Oldbury, about three miles from Berrima, New South Wales, on 25 February 1834. Her father, James Atkinson, was the author of an early Australian book,An Account of the State of Agriculture and Grazing in New South Wales, published in 1826. He died in 1834 and Miss Atkinson was educated by her mother. She early developed an interest in science and made collections of botanical specimens forDr Woolls(q.v.), andBaron von Mueller(q.v.). She also published two novels,Gertrude the Emigrant(1857), andCowanda, The Veteran's Grant(1859); various other tales by her appeared as serials in theSydney Mail. Her series of natural history sketches "A Voice from the Country" appeared in theSydney MailandSydney Morning Heraldin 1860. Other scientific articles were published in theSydney Horticultural Magazineof 18645. In 1870 she married Mr James Snowden Calvert (1825-84), a survivor ofLeichhardt's(q.v.) expedition of 1844-5. Mrs Calvert died on 28 April 1872 leaving a daughter.

Mrs Calvert was one of the earliest Australian writers of fiction, but her work in that direction is commonplace and now forgotten. Her botanical work was more important. The genus Atkinsonia was named after her, as was also the species Epacris calvertiana.