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John Philip Bourke

1860 – 1914

Australian poet

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About John Philip Bourke

Lived 1860 – 1914 (aged 53). John Philip Bourke was a poet.

John Philip Bourke (5 August 1857 – 13 January 1914) was an Australian poet.

Bourke was born in Nundle, New South Wales, on the Peel River diggings, New South Wales, the son of William David Bourke, butcher, and his wife Jane, née Shepherd. After a primary education, he became a prospector with his father. He occasionally contributed verse to The Bulletin. He retired from the education department in 1887 after being found drunk by a school inspector.

Bourke died at Boulder, Western Australia, on 13 January 1914.

Bourke's own estimation of his talent was modest:

We singers standing on the outer rim Who touched the fringe of poesy at times With half-formed thoughts, rough-set in halting rhymes, Through which no airy flights of fancy skim — We write "just so", an hour to while away, And turn the well-thumbed stock still o'er and o'er …

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Frequently asked questions

Who was John Philip Bourke?

Australian poet

When was John Philip Bourke born?

John Philip Bourke was born on 5 August 1860.

When did John Philip Bourke die?

John Philip Bourke died on 13 January 1914.

What was John Philip Bourke's occupation?

John Philip Bourke was a poet.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Philip Bourke

· Wikidata: Q6252756

· DBpedia: John Philip Bourke

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Philip Bourke. https://biography.guide/john-philip-bourke/

MLA: "John Philip Bourke." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-philip-bourke/.

Chicago: "John Philip Bourke." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-philip-bourke/.

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