John Henry Chinner

John Henry Chinner (30 June 1865 – 15 December 1933) was a South Australian artist, best known for his caricatures of prominent people.

History Chinner was born in Brighton, South Australia, son of George Williams Chinner (c. 1824 – 27 May 1880), and his second wife Mary Chinner, née Edwards. Chinner, pḕre, arrived in SA before 1847, had a drapery shop on Rundle Street. He married Caroline Bowen (c. 1831 – 29 April 1861) on 6 April 1849. By 1859 he was a Hindley Street publican, Mayor of Brighton in 1860 and longtime councillor. He married Mary Edwards on 8 September 1863. In 1879 he was enrolled at Prince Alfred College as a boarder, and later was a prominent batsman in the annual cricket match against St Peter's College. This was the start of a lifelong commitment as an active member and finally president of the PAC Old Collegians' Association, longtime member of the College Committee and for 22 years the Council's Honorary Secretary. The family moved to Parkside around 1880 and Chinner became involved with the local church literary society, taught bible classes, and was promoted by Alfred Catt to Sunday school superintendent. His devout, methodical, serious nature and no-nonsense leadership style made the Parkside Wesleyan Methodist Sunday school an example that other churches sought to emulate. He was a Fellow of the South Australian Society of Arts, and was urged by H. P. Gill to make a profession of his hobby.

Notable Citizens Chinner produced a series of around 250 caricatures between 1923 and 1928 for the Adelaide Saturday Journal, No. 1 being of the South Australian Governor, Sir Tom Bridges.

Many of these were also carried by sister-publications The Register and The Observer.

The last of the series may have been of Charles Bastard, lessee of Adelaide's City Baths. Around 180 of these are listed below:

Name Relevant article Notes 75px Chinner monograms This article 75px Abe Shannon Abe Shannon pastoralist philanthropist 75px Albert Ernest Clarkson H. L. Vosz glass merchant 75px Albert James Hannan Albert James Hannan Crown Solicitor 75px Alec Bagot Alec Bagot politician 75px Alexander John McLachlan Alexander McLachlan 75px Alexander Vigors Benson A. V. Benson Port Adelaide Racing Club 75px Alfred Austin Lendon A. A. Lendon medico 75px Alfred C. Minchin A. C. Minchin zoo director 75px Alfred Edward Simpson Alfred Edward Simpson architect 75px Alfred Jabez Roberts A. J. Roberts business, sport 75px Alfred Norwood Day A. N. Day railways 75px Alick J. Murray Alick J. Murray pastoralist 75px Andrew Alexander Kirkpatrick Andrew Kirkpatrick 75px Andrew Douglas Young Andrew Douglas Young stockbroker 75px Angas Johnson Angas Johnson city health officer 75px Archibald Thomas Strong Archibald Strong scholar, poet 75px Arnold Edwin Victor Richardson A. E. V. Richardson 75px Arthur Graham Rymill Arthur Graham Rymill 75px Arthur Nutter Thomas A. Nutter Thomas 75px Arthur V. Kewney Arthur V. Kewney Victoria Racing Club 75px Benno Seppelt Benno Seppelt winemaker 75px Albert Edwin Hamilton A. E. Hamilton accountant, rose fancier 75px Bert Hinkler Bert Hinkler 75px Brailsford Robertson Thorburn Brailsford Robertson Adelaide Uni 75px Brian Wibberley Brian Wibberley Methodist 75px Cecil Thomas Madigan Cecil Thomas Madigan 75px Charles Bastard Charles Bastard manager, City Baths 75px Charles Edward Goldsmith None Commonwealth Bank 75px Patrick McMahon Glynn Patrick McMahon Glynn 75px Percy William Charlton Wise Percy W. Wise canon Wise 75px Raymond Lionel Leane Raymond Lionel Leane 75px Reginald Robert Stuckey under-treasurer 75px Reginald Victor Wilson Reginald Victor Wilson 75px Richard Butler MHA Richard Butler 75px Richard Layton Butler Richard Layton Butler 75px Richard William Bennett judge 75px Robert Duncan 75px Robert Hugh Crawford Robert Hugh Crawford 75px Robert Scott Young Bank of Adelaide 75px Robert William Chapman (engineer) Robert William Chapman 75px Samuel Albert White Samuel Albert White 75px Samuel Henry Prior Samuel Prior of The Bulletin 75px Samuel James Mitchell Samuel James Mitchell 75px Samuel Joshua Jacobs Samuel Joshua Jacobs 75px Samuel Perry Samuel Perry 75px Sid Torr racehorse owner 75px Sidney Kidman Sidney Kidman 75px Stanley Bruce Stanley Bruce 75px Stanley Price Weir Stanley Price Weir 75px Sydney Talbot Smith Sydney Talbot Smith 75px Theodore George Bentley Osborn Theodore George Bentley Osborn 75px Thomas Henry Jones Thomas Henry Jones 75px Thomas Pascoe MLC Thomas Pascoe 75px Thomas Payne Bellchambers naturalist 75px Thomas Shuldham O'Halloran KC Thomas Shuldham O'Halloran KC 75px Thomas Slaney Poole Thomas Slaney Poole 75px Tom Bridges Tom Bridges 75px Victor Ryan tourist bureau 75px W. G. T. Goodman W. G. T. Goodman 75px Wallace Bruce 75px Wallace Sandford Wallace Sandford 75px Walter Edwards Chinner of Wilkinson & Co. 75px Walter Ernest Rogers 01 auditor-general 75px Walter Gill Walter Gill 75px Walter Gordon Duncan Walter Gordon Duncan 75px Whitmore Blake Carr Whitmore Blake Carr 75px Will Ashton Will Ashton 75px William Alfred Webb William Alfred Webb 75px William Bennett (headmaster) William Bennett 75px William Hague MHA William Hague 75px William Henry Foote William Henry Foote 75px William Henry Jeanes SA Cricket Assn 75px William Henry Jeffries William Jeffries (minister) Methodist conference 75px William Herbert Phillipps William Herbert Phillipps 75px William Hutchinson Robinson Methodist conference 75px William Jethro Brown William Jethro Brown 75px William John Colebatch Roseworthy College 75px William John Hill both (Adel, Assoc) Chambers of Commerce 75px William John Masson 75px William John Warren State Bank 75px William Joseph Denny William Joseph Denny 75px William Mitchell (philosopher) William Mitchell 75px William Percival Nicholls Pulteney Grammar 75px William Ramsay Smith William Ramsay Smith 75px William Reynolds Bayly William Reynolds Bayly 75px William Rooke Creswell William Rooke Creswell 75px William Taylor McCoy director of educ. 75px William Thomas Shapley William Thomas Shapley of Methodist conference 75px William Thornborough Hayward William Thornborough Hayward

James Alfred Pearce (1873–1944) drew caricatures in a similar style for the Adelaide News in a series entitled "Familiar Figures" in 1930. No. 19, Frank L. Gratton may be viewed here. Pearce was born in Burra to Cornish parents. Lionel Coventry (1906–1986) was a later News caricaturist, seen here and here (F. L. Parker in 1945 and 1949 respectively)

Other interests Although Chinner was best known for his caricatures, he was also a fine painter in watercolors.

He was also known for his skill as a poet, particularly as a hymnwriter.

He was deeply involved in municipal affairs, and was a longtime member of the Unley Council and served as mayor.

He was a board member of the Epworth Book Depot for over thirty years.

He was a lifelong supporter of Prince Alfred College in every aspect of its activities.

Family

Chinner married Harriet Agnes Wallace (died 22 September 1948) at Parkside Wesleyan Church on 11 September 1889. Their children were: Mary Wallace Chinner (3 October 1890 – ) married Robert Harold Davidson in 1919 Dorothy Agnes Chinner (27 March 1892 – 1916) Marjorie Wallace Chinner (29 August 1894 – ) married James Montrose Maughan in 1919 Harry Wallace Chinner (26 December 1896 – 11 July 1975) John Wallace Chinner (5 March 1901 – 1972) They had a home at 33 Foster street, Parkside.

Notes and references