28 Facts About Henry Lawson

Henry Archibald Hertzberg Lawson was an Australian writer and bush poet.

Henry Lawson wrote prolifically into the 1890s, after which his output declined, in part due to struggles with alcoholism and mental illness.

Henry Lawson was the son of the poet, publisher and feminist Louisa Lawson.

Henry Lawson was born 17 June 1867 in a town on the Grenfell goldfields of New South Wales.

Henry Lawson's father was Niels Hertzberg Larsen, a Norwegian-born miner.

Henry Lawson's parents met at the goldfields of Pipeclay.

Henry Lawson published her son's first volume, and around 1904 brought out a volume of her own, Dert and Do, a simple story of 18,000 words.

Peter Henry Lawson's grave is in the little private cemetery at Hartley Vale, New South Wales, a few minutes' walk behind what was Collitt's Inn.

Henry Lawson attended school at Eurunderee from 2 October 1876 but experienced an ear infection around this time.

However, his master John Tierney was kind and did all he could for Henry Lawson, who was quite shy.

Henry Lawson was a keen reader of Dickens and Marryat and Australian novels such as Marcus Clarke's For the Term of His Natural Life and Rolf Boldrewood's Robbery Under Arms ; an aunt had given him a volume by Bret Harte.

In 1883, after working on building jobs with his father in the Blue Mountains, Henry Lawson joined his mother in Sydney at her request.

Henry Lawson lived in a boarding house along William Street and wrote a poem titled William Street.

Henry Lawson spent time in Newcastle at the Wickham School of Arts while working for the Hudson Brothers branch railway workshops.

Henry Lawson writes of an unofficial engagement and Lawson's wish to marry her, but it was broken by his frequent absences from Sydney.

Henry Lawson's first published poem was 'A Song of the Republic' which appeared in The Bulletin, 1 October 1887; his mother's republican friends were an influence.

Henry Lawson returned to Sydney and continued to write for the Bulletin which, in 1892, paid for an inland trip where he experienced the harsh realities of drought-affected New South Wales.

Henry Lawson worked as a roustabout in the woolshed at Toorale Station.

Henry Lawson lacked money due to unfortunate royalty deals with publishers.

Henry Lawson was gaoled at Darlinghurst Gaol for drunkenness, wife desertion, child desertion, and non-payment of child support seven times between 1905 and 1909, for a total of 159 days and recorded his experience in the haunting poem "One Hundred and Three" which was published in 1908.

Henry Lawson refers to the prison as "Starvinghurst Gaol" because of the meagre rations given to the inmates.

Henry Lawson negotiated on his behalf with publishers, helped to arrange contact with his children, contacted friends and supporters to help him financially, and assisted and nursed him through his mental and alcohol problems.

Henry Lawson wrote countless letters on his behalf and knocked on any doors that could provide Henry with financial assistance or a publishing deal.

Henry Lawson's funeral was attended by the Prime Minister Billy Hughes and the Premier of New South Wales, Jack Lang, as well as thousands of citizens.

In 1949 Henry Lawson was the subject of an Australian postage stamp.

In 2017 Henry Lawson was again featured on two Australian postage stamps, one featuring Mitchell: A Character Sketch and the other The Drover's Wife and family, including dog, pitted against the snake.

Henry Lawson was featured on the first Australian ten-dollar note issued in 1966 when decimal currency was first introduced into Australia.

Henry Lawson was pictured against scenes from the town of Gulgong in NSW.