Smeathman, Charles Thomas

Charles Thomas Smeathman was born in Scarborough, England in October 1774. In 1801, he joined the Watteville's Regiment of the British army, where he excelled and was promoted to Major.

Major Smeathman arrived in Sydney with his wife, Eliza, and their son, Henry, on the ship Orelia in October 1827. In February 1828 he was granted 1280 acres of land in the Hunter region by Governor Ralph Darling, however his appointment to the position of coroner for the Town of Sydney in September 1828[1] prevented the family’s move north.

The Hunter acreage was sold in 1832, but another application for a land grant at Woolloomooloo was rejected. 

Smeathman conducted many inquests as Coroner, including the inquest into the death of bushranger John ‘Jack’ Donahue, an infamous member of the ‘Wild Colonial Boys’.

He died on the 16 January 1835 at his home on Sussex Street.

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