William Wentworth – Democrat by Worldview, Australian Politician and Explorer by Calling

The article is dedicated to William Charles Wentworth, the leading Australian political figure during the first half of the 19th century, whose lifelong work for self-government culminated in the NewSouth Wales in 1855. While detecting his life-long activity we come to the conclusion that he was an exceptionally talented men: explorer, author, gifted barrister (he graduated from CambridgeUniversity with honours), landowner, and statesman. In 1819 he published a book “Statistical, Нistorical, and Political Description of The Colony of New South Wales and Its Dependant Settlements in Van Diemen’s Land” which was the first book of Australia written by native-born Australian. The analyses of this outstanding magnum opus, written by a young man before his thirties, allow to state that his book did much to stimulate emigration to Australia. It was reissued in revised and enlarged editions in 1820 and 1824. It is found out that while returning to Australia, Wentworth as a gifted orator and excellent journalist became the colony’s leading political figure of the 1820s and 1830s, calling for the abolition of convicts’ transportation and establishing representative government, freedom of the press and trial by jury. It is disclosed how he struggled for the Legislative Council (Parliament) and new Constitution in 1840s and 1850s; how he made primary education for all children in the colony a reality and did his utmost to open Sydney University. In sum: this great son of Australia accomplished everything he planned for his native land.