The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Garran, Hon. Andrew
Garran, Hon. Andrew, M.L.C., LL.D., was born in London on Nov. 19th, 1825, and educated at a proprietary grammar school in Hackney, and afterwards at Spring Hill College, Birmingham. He subsequently graduated at London University, taking the M.A. degree in the philosophical branch in 1848. Falling ill with what was pronounced to be consumption, he went to Madeira for eighteen months, and then resolved to emigrate to Australia. Shortly after arriving in Adelaide in 1851, Dr. Garran was engaged to write for a short-lived weekly newspaper called the Austral Examiner. On the outbreak of the gold diggings he went to Victoria, and was engaged there as private tutor to Mr. C. E. Labillière on a station near Ballan. Returning to Adelaide, he was engaged as editor on the South Australian Register in 1854 and 1855, when he removed to Sydney, on the invitation of the proprietor of the Sydney Morning Herald, to be assistant editor to the Rev. John West. On the latter gentleman's death in 1873 Dr. Garran became editor-in-chief, and held that post till he was forced to retire from failing health at the beginning of 1886. In Feb. of the following year he was appointed by Sir H. Parkes to the Legislative Council of New South Wales. Dr. Garran has been a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Works, of the Board of Technical Instruction, and of the Board of the Sydney Grammar School He was for many years Sydney correspondent for the Melbourne Argus, and also for the London Times. Dr. Garran, edited "The Picturesque Atlas of Australia," the most comprehensive descriptive work on Australia hitherto published, He married at Adelaide on Dec. 1st, 1854, Miss Mary Isham Sabine. From 1890 to 1891 he presided over the deliberations of the Royal Commission on labour questions.