George Shenton Sr.

George Shenton (2 January 1811 – 25 March 1867) was a pharmacist, merchant, banker and philanthropist in colonial Perth, Western Australia.

Biography

Early life George Shenton was born in Winchester, England on 2 January 1811. He was the second of four sons of a wealthy silk manufacturer. At the age of fifteen, he was apprenticed to a pharmacist named William Bilton. Bilton and his family were Wesleyans, and during his apprenticeship Shenton became a Wesleyan himself. In 1832, at the age of 21, he migrated to the Swan River Colony. His decision to leave England was sudden, and appears to have been a result of a falling-out between Shenton and Bilton. Shenton's cousin William Kernot Shenton had been in the colony since 1829, and this probably also influenced his decision.

Adult life in Australia He arrived in the Swan River Colony in January 1833. He had a substantial amount of family money with him, and there is evidence to suggest that he put it to immediate use in aiding his cousin, who was in financial difficulties. Shortly after George Shenton's arrival, William Kernot Shenton obtained four and a half acres of land at Point Belches (now Mill Point), South Perth and began construction of a mill. The mill began operation in August under the company name W.K.Shenton & Company. George Shenton was certainly involved in the running of the mill, as he was at the mill, alone, in April 1834, when the mill was raided by a large party of Aborigines led by Calyute, who stole nearly half a ton of flour. His financial affairs were taken over by his eldest son George, who himself became one of the most prominent merchants in Western Australia, a Mayor of Perth, and a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council. Another son was prominent Perth businessman, Ernest Chawner Shenton who later ran the business which was renamed to E. C. Shenton and Co.