E. R. Mitford

Eustace Reveley Mitford (16 November 1810 – 24 October 1869) was an early settler in South Australia, best known as "Pasquin", wit and satirist.

Mitford was born at St Pancras, London, the third of four sons of barrister John Mitford (1772–1851) of the celebrated Mitford family, and his wife Sarah Mitford née Woodward (1784–1836); his grandparents were the historian William Mitford (1743–1827) and his first wife Frances "Fanny" Mitford née Molloy ( –1776).

He joined the Royal Navy at an early age, and before long transferred to the Spanish service, and may have subsequently served in the British Army, but no details are available; it seems Mitford though voluble about much else, was reticent about his personal history.

Mitford and his small family emigrated to South Australia, arriving aboard Katherine Stewart Forbes (Capt. Alfred Fell) in March 1839 after a long voyage of around 150 days. Judge Cooper was a fellow passenger.

He purchased a farming property of 80 acres (32 ha) Section 114, Marion Road near the site of the present Ascot Park school. John Crozier's "Oaklands" selection was nearby, as was Section 115 of Dr. Handasyde Duncan, a fellow passenger on the Katherine Stewart Forbes. Sections 114 and 115 now comprise the suburb of Park Holme. Despite augmenting his farm income by driving a bullock team between Port Adelaide and Burra, the farming venture was not a success, and after fifteen years' toil he sold up and moved to a house on the South Road, Edwardstown.

He tried his hand as a miner, which turned out to be a mistake. The Tiparra and the Bald Hills Survey prospects in which he invested proved worthless. He claimed to have been cheated of his rights to the Moonta copper discoveries.

He had been, as "Pasquin" publishing forthright letters to the Telegraph advocating freedom of communication and removal of Government controls on business, and had built up a following, impressed with his liberal views and idiosyncratic writing. On Saturday 26 January 1867 the first issue of his Pasquin: Pastoral, Mineral & Agricultural Advocate appeared, price 4d. (four pence, perhaps $10 in today's values) or by subscription at 4s. (four shillings) per quarter, published by Mitford and Henry Hutchings. Mitford served as editor, lead writer and caricaturist. His vigorous, infuriating, cantankerous and aggressive but entertaining prose achieved immediate recognition and a degree of financial success.

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