Statistical, Historical and Political Description of the Colony of New South Wales (ePub)

William Charles Wentworth (1790-1872) was an Australian explorer, journalist, and politician, remembered primarily for his ardent advocacy for the rights and self-government of his homeland, New South Wales (NSW). Born in Norfolk Island, he later studied in England, which laid the foundation for his literary and political endeavors. Wentworth's formative work, 'A Statistical, Historical and Political Description of the Colony of New South Wales' (1819), is a seminal text providing an extensive review of the colony's geography, economy, and society, interlarded with prescriptions for its political reform. His literary style combines rigorous empirical description with impassioned rhetoric, reflecting his dual commitments to Enlightenment rationalism and the cause of colonial self-determination. This book not only offered a compelling argument for the socio-political development of NSW but also positioned Wentworth as a significant colonial intellectual. His writings exhibit an early Australian nationalism, as he contended against penal transportations and campaigned for a more equitable legal and educational system. His impact extended beyond literature into tangible political influence, as he was instrumental in the establishment of the University of Sydney and in NSW achieving a degree of self-government. Wentworth's contributions to Australian society both in literature and politics immortalize him as a pivotal figure in the narrative of Australia's progress toward self-identity and autonomy.