John Finnis (captain)

John Finnis
Born	1802-12-03 Dover, England
Died	1872-08-13
Occupation(s)	Mariner, pastoralist, ship owner
Known for	Early colonial expansion of South Australia, livestock drives, maritime commerce

John Finnis (3 December 1802 – 13 August 1872), commonly referred to as "Captain Finnis," was a mariner recognized for his significant contributions to the early colonial expansion of South Australia alongside Charles Sturt.

History

Originating from Dover, Finnis was the son of Gilbert and Elizabeth Finnis (née Nash). He pursued a career at sea and, in 1831, jointly acquired the barque Elizabeth with Joseph Montefiore. He commanded whaling voyages in the southern oceans during this period.

In September 1838, Finnis accompanied Captain Charles Sturt, Giles Strangways, and George McLeod on an overland drive of 400 cattle from the Hume River region. The following year, he entered into a partnership with Hampden Dutton and Duncan McFarlane to secure the Mount Barker Special Survey—a tract of 4,000 acres designated for cattle grazing and settlement. This land supported 39 German immigrant families who arrived under the auspices of George Fife Angas aboard the Zebra and Catharina. In 1840, Finnis collaborated with Nelson and John Tooth to herd 10,000 sheep from New South Wales to Adelaide and later managed further livestock drives. Early in 1841, together with Frederick Dutton, he imported an additional 12,000 sheep for market sale, along with consignments of brandy, cigars, and tobacco transported by sea.

By 1843, Finnis returned to maritime commerce, chartering the Joseph Albino to bring goods from New Zealand while exporting wheat and other products on the return journey. He eventually acquired this vessel for subsequent trips; however, it was seized in America without compensation.

Finnis passed away at his home located on Franklin Street, Adelaide.

Family

On 23 March 1832 in Sydney, Finnis married Ludovina Rosa Da Silva Cameron (1796 – 21 August 1854), who was the widow of Colonel Charles Cameron (1777–1827). Children from Rosa's marriage to Charles included:

• Charlotte da Silva Cameron (1813 – 11 May 1885), who wed (William) Hampden Dutton (1805 – 21 November 1849) in 1831.
• Ewan Wallace Cameron (26 July 1816 – 25 May 1876), married Sophia Nail in 1856.
• Julia Anne Ludovina Cameron (circa 1820 – 15 June 1846), married Dr. George Bennett (1804–1893) in 1835; they had two sons and three daughters.
• Ludovina Catherina da Silva Cameron (1824 – 21 October 1851), married George Strickland Kingston in 1841; they had five children who survived into adulthood:
  • Ludovina Cameron Kingston (1842–1908)
  • Hester Holland Kingston (1843–1893)
  • Charlotte Julian Kingston (1845–1913), who married Hubert Giles—son of William Giles—in 1880
  • Strickland Gough Kingston (1848–1897), a lawyer who died by suicide following a lost case
  • Charles Cameron Kingston (1850–1908), who served as Premier of South Australia between 1893 and 1899

On 3 September 1856, Finnis married Mary Ann Russell, his niece, at his Adelaide residence. The Reverend James Pollitt faced charges under canon law for conducting this prohibited union and had his license suspended for one year. They had two sons together, including John Mercer Finnis (died 1909), whose son Harold Finnis was a longtime secretary of the R.A.& H.S.

Legacy

A portrait of Finnis, created by S. T. Gill, is preserved at the State Library of South Australia, underscoring his important role in the commercial and maritime heritage of the area.