Arthur A'Beckett

Arthur Martin A'Beckett was born in 1812 in London, United Kingdom to William A'Beckett, a solicitor, and Sarah Abbott. A'Beckett studied medicine in Paris and in London at London University From 1835 to 1837, he served as a staff surgeon to the British Legion in Spain, where he received several Spanish decorations including the Knight Bachelor of San Ferdinand.[3] In 1838, A'Beckett married Emma Louise Elwin, with whom he had 5 sons and 5 children, with one of his sons William Channing A'Beckett being born in 1846. They migrated in that year to New South Wales after encouragement from his brother, Sir William A'Beckett.[4][5]

In New South Wales, he continued to serve as a surgeon, rising through the ranks of the Sydney medical fraternity. He also served as a consultant surgeon to Benevolent asylums, and as an examiner for the University of Sydney's medical faculty. In 1855, he was appointed as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.[4]

From 13 May 1856 to 9 November 1860, A'Beckett served on the New South Wales Legislative Council.[5] His brother Sir William A'Beckett was Chief Justice of Victoria, while his son William Channing A'Beckett later joined the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.[1] In NSW, he continued to promote education and the arts, with A'Beckett serving as a commissioner due to his contributions to the Exposition Universelle of 1855. He also served as the President of the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts and as a trustee of the Australian museum and Sydney Grammar School.[4]

Arthur A'Beckett, lawyer, journalist and son of the writer Gilbert Abbott À Beckett, joined the staff of the magazine Punch in London in 1875. His first novel Fallen Among Thieves, "an early country house murder & detective story", had appeared in 1870.[6]