Francis Greenway
| Francis Howard Greenway | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
20 November 1777 Mangotsfield, Bristol In England |
| Died | September 1837 (aged 59) near Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
| Cause of death | Typhoid fever |
| Resting place |
Glebe burial ground, East Maitland, New South Wales 32°45′33.2″S 151°34′30.6″E / 32.759222°S 151.575167°ECoordinates: 32°45′33.2″S 151°34′30.6″E / 32.759222°S 151.575167°E |
| Monuments | Francis Greenway High School, Beresfield |
| Residence | New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Known for | Early colonial Australian architecture |
| Notable work | List of works |
| Criminal charge | Forgery |
| Criminal penalty | 14 years transportation to Australia |
| Criminal status | Discharged |
| Children | six (names unknown) |
| Parent(s) | Francis Greenway Ann Greenway |
Francis Howard Greenway (20 November 1777 – September 1837) was an English-born architect who was transported to Australia as a convict for the crime of forgery. In New South Wales he worked for the Governor, Lachlan Macquarie, as Australia's first government architect. He became widely known and admired for his work displayed in buildings such as St Matthew's Church in Windsor, New South Wales, St James' Church, Sydney and Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney.
Greenway was born in Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire (near the English city of Bristol), the son of Francis Greenway and Ann Webb. Greenway became an architect "of some eminence" in Bristol and Bath. His only remaining building in the United Kingdom is the Clifton Club in Bristol, originally the Clifton Hotel and Assembly Rooms. He also designed Christ Church Downend near Mangotsfield (see Gomme an Architectural history of Bristol and church website). In 1809 he became bankrupt and in 1812 he pleaded guilty "under the advice of his friends", to forging a financial document and was sentenced to death; this sentence was later commuted to 14 years' transportation. Why he pleaded guilty is unknown; he may have been told it was the only way to save his life. Whilst awaiting deportation to Sydney, Greenway spent time in Newgate Prison, Bristol where he completed paintings depicting scenes within the prison.
Greenway arrived in Sydney, New South Wales on the transport General Hewitt in February 1814 to serve his sentence. On board the ship was the surgeon Dr. John Harris who was to give Greenway his first private commission in the colony which involved extending his residence on his Ultimo estate. Greenway first met Lachlan Macquarie in July 1814 to whom he had come recommended by Admiral Arthur Phillip. During the initial meeting Macquarie sought to test Greenway by asking him to copy a design of a town hall and courthouse from a pattern book. Greenway was so offended by this that he responded with a letter declaring his skills and quoting Sir William Chambers that his Excellency should utilise the opportunity for a classical design.
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