FINN, Edmund (1819-1898)

pioneer journalist

was born in Tipperary, Ireland, on 13 January 1819. Originally educated for the priesthood he emigrated to Australia and arrived at Port Phillip in July 1841. He was a tutor in classics for four years, and then joined the staff of the Port Phillip Herald as a general reporter. He was a good journalist and made a point of knowing everyone and everything that was going on; it was said that he had held every position on the paper from reporter to editor. In 1858 he was appointed clerk of the papers in the legislative council and remained in that position until his retirement in 1886. In 1880 he had published anonymously The "Garryowen" Sketches which were eventually expanded into The Chronicles of Early Melbourne, 1835-1852, published in two large volumes in 1888. Although unfortunately without an index, this is a valuable book and contains a large amount or generally reliable information about the early days of Melbourne.

Finn was a genial, kindly man, short in stature and very near-sighted. He took a great interest in Irish affairs in Melbourne and was for some time president of the St Patrick's Society. He died on 4 April 1898. He was married twice and left a widow and children by both marriages. A son, Edmund Finn, the younger, who died in 1922, was also an author. Among his books were A Priest's Secret and The Hordern Mystery, readable but now quite forgotten short novels.

The Age, Melbourne, 5 April 1898; The Advocate, 9 April 1898; Men of the Time in Australia, 1878; P. Mennell, The Dictionary of Australasian Biography; P. E. O'Grady, The Victorian Historical Magazine, vol. XV, p. 108; The Herald, Melbourne, 4 August 1945.