Dexter, Caroline (1819-1884)

Abstract

Dexter, Caroline (1819-1884), feminist, was born on 6 January 1819 in Nottingham, England, daughter of Richard Harper, watchmaker and jeweller, and his wife Mary, née Simson. She was educated privately in England and in Paris became well versed in French culture and friendly with the female novelist, 'George Sand' (1804-1876). At Nottingham in 1843 she married the painter, William Dexter, of Melbourne, Derbyshire. Despite success with the Royal Academy he decided to migrate; in the 'Bank of England' he arrived at Sydney in October 1852. He taught drawing at Lyndhurst College, the Glebe, but soon went to Bendigo where lie designed the diggers' banner and spoke at a protest meeting in August 1853. He was in Sydney in January 1855 when Caroline arrived in the 'Marie Gabrielle'. On the voyage she wrote 'The Emigrant', lines containing what little of nostalgia she allowed to creep into her writings.