Arthur Wilberforce Jose

Who was Arthur Wilberforce Jose?

Arthur Wilberforce Jose was an English-Australian historian and editor of the Australian Encyclopaedia.

Jose was born at Bristol, South West England, eldest son of William Wilberforce Jose, and his wife Sarah Maria, née Woodward. W. W. Jose was chairman of Bristol School Board's technical education committee and a governor of University College, Bristol. Arthur Jose was educated at Clifton College, where he obtained a scholarship which took him to Balliol College, Oxford. About a year later Jose's health broke down and he was sent to Australia in 1882 to recuperate. His father lost his fortune and a return to Oxford became impossible. Jose was offered a clerical position in Sydney but preferred to get Australian experience working in the country as a wood-chopper, cook, and fencing contractor. Jose then went to Hobart and was a tutor in a private family. While in Tasmania he met the Rev. Edwin Bean, headmaster of All Saints' College, Bathurst, New South Wales, who offered him a position as assistant master. He was there for about nine years.