John Gerard Anderson

Who was John Gerard Anderson?

John Gerard Anderson, M.A., J.P., was a Scottish-born educationalist and public servant in colonial Queensland.

Anderson, son of Rev. James Anderson, M.A., of Orphir, Orkney, was born on 12 February 1836 and graduated M.A. at Aberdeen University, afterwards remaining there as a student of Divinity. He emigrated to Queensland in 1862, and became connected with the Education Service in September 1863 as first District Inspector of Schools. He was appointed Senior Inspector in June 1869, Acting General Inspector in September 1874, General Inspector in 1876, and Under Secretary for Public Instruction Queensland in November 1878.

On 17 April 1873, Anderson married Edith Sarah Wood, daughter of William Wood. His daughter, artist Susan Edith Anderson, married painter Theodore Penleigh Boyd of the Boyd family.