Henry Melville

Henry Saxelby Melville Wintle (1799 – 22 December 1873), his historical work The History of Van Diemen's Land From the Year 1824 to 1835,

Early life and career (1799 – 1825) Very little is known about Melville's life before his arrival in Hobart, then known as Hobart Town, in 1827; all that is known is that he was born in 1799 somewhere in New South Wales. In March 1830, Melville purchased his first newspaper The Colonial Times and later that year published, and printed, Henry Savery's Quintus Servinton; a novel which is claimed by some to be Australia's first published novel.

After three months of imprisonment, Melville was released in January 1836.

Later life and career (1836 – 1873) After his imprisonment, Melville became relatively quiet in terms of controversial publishing; as he found himself ostracised amongst the political elite in Tasmania. In 1838, Melville found himself involved in a minor legal proceeding; this proceeding, though minor in consequence, proved to be expensive for Melville and brought up on the verge of bankruptcy.