The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Sprent, James
Sprent, James, was born in Manchester, of Scotch parents, in 1806. He was educated at the University of Glasgow, where he took the degree of M.A. He emigrated to Tasmania in the year 1830, and was for some time tutor to Governor Sir George Arthur's children. In 1832 he was appointed District Surveyor. From 1842 to 1846 he was employed in surveying the Van Diemen's Land Company's estates. Between the years 1849 and 1857 Mr. Sprent took the leading part in the trigonometrical survey of the island, which he accomplished almost single-handed, and with remarkable success. He was appointed Surveyor-General of Tasmania in 1857, and died at Hobart on Sept. 27th, 1863.