RUSDEN, HENRY KEYLOCK (1826-1910), public servant and polemicist, was born at
Leith Hill Place, near Dorking, Surrey, England, fourth son of Rev. George Keylock
Rusden and his wife Anne, née Townsend. In 1834 he arrived in New South Wales with
his family, including his brother George. At 15 he left home and found various
jobs in the Riverina. He then joined the gold rushes in New England and Victoria.
In 1853 Rusden forsook the diggings for Melbourne and joined the public service.
He became an accountant in the Police Department where he stayed until his
retirement in August 1891, respected for his punctiliousness. On 5 June 1858 he
had married Anna Spence.
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Australian Dictionary of Biography
Henry Keylock Rusden was an autodidact who relished disputation and was a founder of the Eclectic Society in 1867 and a member of the Royal Society of Victoria. He was an amateur scientist who believed that every entity was subject to law and every human act and natural event had necessary, measurable consequences.
Born Leith Hill Place, near Dorking, Surrey, England, 30 January 1826. Died Melbourne, 10 April 1910. Arrived New South Wales 1834. Various jobs in the Riverina from 1841; joined the gold rushes in New England and Victoria; joined the Victorian public service 1853; accountant, Police Department, Victoria to 1891. Founder, Eclectic Society 1867 and member until it was disbanded 1894; founder, Sunday Free Discussion Society 1870; secretary, Royal Society of Victoria 1870-73, and 1877 and vice-president 1891-1900; secretary, Yorick Club; secretary, Cremation Society. Partly responsible for the first Australian legalisation of cremation, in Victoria in 1903.
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Encyclopedia of Australian Science
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