Page:The Dictionary of Australasian Biography.djvu/555

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
Supplement]
DICTIONARY OF AUSTRALASIAN BIOGRAPHY.
[Supplement

attention almost exclusively to sheep-breeding. Mr. William Robertson in 1862 married Martha Mary, second daughter of the late Mr. J. R. Murphy, of Melbourne. Mr. Robertson's eldest son, William St. Leger, was educated at Oxford, and during his stay there had the same pleasant experience as his father of being one of the winning crew in the annual boat race against Cambridge. He afterwards settled at Broome, W.A., as resident partner with the Messrs. Streeter, of London, in the pearl fishing industry and in squatting pursuits in the Kimberley district. Mr. Robertson died at Colac on June 24th, 1892.

Romilly, Hugh Hastings, C.M.G., was the third son of the late Colonel Frederick Romilly, by his marriage with Elizabeth Amelia Jane, daughter of the second Earl of Minto. He was born in 1856, and was private secretary to Sir Arthur Gordon when Governor of Fiji in 1879, and when Governor of New Zealand in 1880-1. In the latter year he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Western Pacific, and visited and lived in all the principal groups of islands. He was in charge of New Guinea after its annexation until Sir Peter Scratchley's arrival, and after his death in 1885 and 1886. In the latter year Mr. Romilly was assistant commissioner in charge of New Guinea exhibits at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition at South Kensington. For his services in this capacity he was created C.M.G., and in 1888 he was appointed deputy Commissioner of the Western Pacific and consul for the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands. He quitted the colonial service in 1890, and returned to England. In 1891 he accompanied Lord Randolph Churchill in his visit to Mashonaland. Mr. Romilly died in London in July 1892. He was the author of "A True Story of the Western Pacific in 1879-80" '(London, 1882), "The Western Pacific and New Guinea" (London, Murray, 1886), and "From My Verandah in New Guinea" (London, Nutt, 1889).

Ryan, Charles Snodgrass, M.B., C.M., was born on Sept. 20th, 1853, in Melbourne, Vict., and educated at the Church of England Grammar School, and subsequently at the Melbourne University, as a student of medicine; afterwards he proceeded to Edinburgh, where he graduated in medicine and surgery, and took the degrees of M.B. and C.M. He then travelled on the Continent and studied medicine in France, Austria, and Italy. In Sept. 1876 he entered the Turkish service, and was forthwith sent to Nisch, where he was placed in charge of a large hospital during the Servian war. He was afterwards sent to the Orchanie Balkans in charge of 3000 Turkish soldiers, and from there was ordered to march to Widdin, although still suffering from a severe attack of dysentery. He reached that place in ten days, having nearly died from exhaustion on the road. Whilst in Widdin he was present during nine bombardments. From Widdin he proceeded with Osman Pacha to Plevna, which he gained after marching for three successive days and nights, and was present at the first battle of that memorable conflict, being the only doctor on the field. He was in the Turkish ranks at the great action of July 31st. On Sept. 8th his horse was shot under him, and his attendant killed by his side, whilst riding into one of the Turkish redoubts, which was about to be attacked by Skobeleff. At the battle of Gravitza he entered one of the redoubts captured by the Turks from the Russians, and on the Turks, in their turn, being expelled from this redoubt, Dr. Ryan was the last to leave it, which he did leading his horse, on which he had placed two Turkish soldiers whose legs were broken. In this plight he returned to Plevna, a distance of six miles, for the first two miles of which he was exposed to a very heavy fire. He next accompanied the expedition to Loftcha. On Oct. 18th he left Plevna for Constantinople, and was sent to Erzeroum as head of an ambulance. Here he remained four months in charge of a hospital. During this period the city was besieged by the Russians for six weeks, and for four weeks Dr. Ryan was suffering from a severe attack of typhus, which disease carried off twenty-two out of thirty-six surgeons in Erzeroum, more than sixteen thousand Turkish soldiers dying from it and from dysentery. For his services during the war he received the order of the Medjidie of the fourth class, the order of the Osmanieh of the third class, and the war medal. Dr. Ryan married on July 5th, 1883, Alice Elfrida, daughter of the Hon. Theophilus

539