George Fife Angas

Shipowner, born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE England, UK. He is regarded as a founder of South Australia. He was appointed commissioner for the formation of the colony in 1834, and emigrated to Adelaide in 1851.

George Fife Angas (1 May 1789-15 May 1879), played a significant part in the formation of South Australia.

He was born at Newcastle upon Tyne, England, the seventh son of Caleb Angas, a successful coach builder and ship owner. Over the next 20 years Angas steadily developed his business, spending time in Honduras.

He came from a religious household, and as a religious person became a secretary of the Newcastle Sunday School Union. He became interested in a proposed settlement in South Australia and formed the South Australian Land Company.

He was discouraged by the company's failure to get government support , but continued his involvement with the South Australian Association which was formed in 1834, with Robert Gouger as secretary. During debates on the price of land, Angas held the opposite view to Edward Gibbon Wakefield's wanting the price to be low. Difficulties arose in raising money and Angas eventually formed the South Australia Company. The company purchased land from the South Australian Association and in February 1836, three ships set sail for South Australia with emigrants, livestock and provisions on board.

The colonial office, the board of commissioners, and the South Australian Company would determine the success or failure of the colony and it was still unclear which was the controlling body. The establishment of the South Australian Banking Company in 1837, at the behest of Angas, played an important part in the early growth of the colony. Angas worked on behalf of the bank in England giving lectures, writing pamphlets and supplying information to newspapers. He also helped to establish the South Australian School Society, and sent out missionaries and German colonists. He set up the Union Bank of Australia in England and also found the time to be active in the colonisation of New Zealand. In recognition of his efforts in making New Zealand an English colony rather than a French colony, Angas was offered a knighthood and a then baronetcy, but he declined both.

In 1836, Angas met with Pastor August Kavel, who was Pastor in Klemzig, Prussia. Angas sent his chief clerk, Charles Flaxman to Prussia to meet with Kavel’s group. Flaxman on returning, gave a favorable report to Angas, who then sought to have the South Australia Company meet the cost of the transport for the whole congregation from Hamburg to South Australia. This request was declined, and so Angas made a loan to this group of emigrants, by meeting the cost of securing vessels himself. In 1838, Angas chartered four ships on their behalf; This loan, along with another Angas had made to his chief clerk Charles Flaxman, who invested in land in South Australia, put him in a difficult financial situation the next year. Angas had borrowed heavily and sold his interests in the Union Bank and other companies.

News came that the British government had dishonoured drafts drawn by the Governor, George Gawler and that the colony was in danger of ruin. Angas appealed to the government, his efforts resulting in a loan to the colony and payment of the dishonoured drafts.

In 1842 Angas lectured extensively on South Australia and wrote a pamphlet, "Facts Illustrative of South Australia" which was widely distributed. Gawler, who had been recalled to England suggested that he should settle in South Australia. In early 1843, his finances still troubled, he sent out his 19 year old son John Howard Angas to supervise his land and recover the family fortunes. Angas was unable to sell his northern England properties until 1850 but some repayments had come in from the German setlers.

Angas, by then almost 62, was met by his two sons and eldest daughter. He continued parliamentary work and lobbied against South Australia being given responsibility for the administration of the Northern Territory. He was survived by three sons, notably John Howard Angas and George French Angas, and three daughters.

Summary: The album contains press cuttings concerning the Angas family, including obituaries of George Fife Angas, George French Angas and Henry Willmott, the laying of the foundation stone of the Bushmen's Club (1878) and the first and second reports of the South Australian Company (1836 and 1838).